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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 116 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. pass — a permit
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. land — to come down
  11. bulb — for light
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. branch — a division
  15. land — a country
  16. bear — the animal
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. land — ground
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stem — to come from
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bulb — for light
  23. deal — to handle
  24. bear — the animal

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