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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 116 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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. current — electric
  6. fork — in a road
  7. pit — in a race
  8. current — of water
  9. fine — all right
  10. board — to get on
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. board — a committee
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. branch — a division
  15. stem — to come from
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. current — happening now
  21. fine — high quality
  22. pit — a hole
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. stem — of a plant

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