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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: net · mug · leaves · stem · bass · band · ball · staff

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. mug — to rob
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. staff — employees
  5. net — in sport
  6. ball — a great time
  7. net — for catching
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. bass — the fish
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. net — after costs
  12. band — a ring
  13. ball — a dance
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. band — a music group
  16. staff — a stick
  17. stem — to come from
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bass — low music
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mug — a face
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. staff — employees
  24. leaves — lets stay

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