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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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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: can · stand · season · branch · foot · date · cell · pop

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. season — in sport
  3. foot — a measure
  4. can — to be able to
  5. branch — a division
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. pop — soda
  12. cell — in biology
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. can — a tin
  16. season — of the year
  17. pop — music
  18. pop — to visit
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. cell — a phone
  21. can — a tin
  22. stand — to bear
  23. date — the fruit
  24. stand — on your feet

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