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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 120 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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · wound · ground · bulb · root · bank · dip · branch

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bank — of a river
  6. wound — an injury
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. bank — for money
  9. dip — to sink
  10. branch — a division
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. ground — crushed
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bank — for money
  17. root — the cause
  18. pass — a permit
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. ground — the earth
  22. ground — a position
  23. root — of a word
  24. root — 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