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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: court · can · bear · pit · root · stem · jam · bank

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. root — the cause
  4. court — of law
  5. stem — to come from
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. root — of a word
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. bank — for money
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. pit — in a race
  15. root — of a plant
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bank — of a river
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. court — for sport
  23. pit — a hole
  24. court — of a king

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