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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. cap — of ice
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — a permit
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. cap — a lid
  8. can — a tin
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. game — a match
  11. date — the fruit
  12. object — a thing
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. game — wild animals
  15. object — an aim
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. can — a tin
  20. object — to protest
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. cap — a hat
  24. stem — to come from

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