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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: branch · can · stem · bound · temple · roll · hand · staff

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. bound — obliged
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. roll — a list
  6. branch — a division
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. staff — employees
  9. hand — help
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. staff — a stick
  12. stem — to come from
  13. bound — tied together
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. bound — certain
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. roll — a cake
  20. can — to be able to
  21. staff — employees
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. hand — in cards
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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