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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 120 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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. can — a tin
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. stem — to come from
  7. wound — an injury
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — for money
  15. wax — to grow
  16. bank — of a river
  17. wound — an injury
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. can — to be able to
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. can — a tin

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