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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: fan · wave · stem · cap · nail · rush · suit · bank

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. suit — in cards
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. cap — a hat
  5. cap — of ice
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. suit — to fit
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bank — of a river
  10. cap — a lid
  11. bank — for money
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bank — for money
  17. stem — to come from
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. rush — hurry
  24. suit — clothes

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