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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. branch — a division
  4. bank — of a river
  5. press — to push
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. press — newspapers
  8. mate — to breed
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. bank — for money
  11. saw — the tool
  12. mug — a cup
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bank — for money
  15. stem — to come from
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mug — a face
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. mate — a partner
  21. mate — a friend
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. mug — to rob
  24. press — a publisher

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