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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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. charge — in control
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. object — to protest
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. object — a thing
  16. charge — a price
  17. object — an aim
  18. charge — electricity
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. rock — music
  21. deal — to handle
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. stand — to bear
  24. branch — a division

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