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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. cue — a signal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. land — ground
  7. mate — a partner
  8. land — a country
  9. object — to protest
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. mate — to breed
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. land — to come down
  15. object — a thing
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. cue — a hint
  19. object — an aim
  20. cue — for pool
  21. stem — to come from
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. toast — bread
  24. mate — a friend

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com