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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — a division
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mark — a trace
  11. court — of law
  12. stem — to come from
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — obliged
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bound — certain
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. court — for sport
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. court — of a king

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