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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. ball — a dance
  8. stem — to come from
  9. land — to come down
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. stand — to bear
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. staff — a stick
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. staff — employees
  19. land — ground
  20. staff — employees
  21. land — a country
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. branch — a division
  24. ball — a great time

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