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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. stem — to come from
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. branch — a division
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. can — a tin
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bulb — for light
  14. season — of the year
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. rock — music
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. season — in sport
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. bulb — for light
  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