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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · branch · fan · mouse · stem · key · cell · prune

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. branch — a division
  3. cell — a phone
  4. cell — in biology
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — for light
  9. stem — to come from
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. key — in music
  12. key — the most important part
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. prune — to trim
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. branch — of a bank

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