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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: leaves · root · staff · current · bass · pass · bulb · branch

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. current — happening now
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bass — the fish
  6. current — electric
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. current — of water
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bass — low music
  13. staff — a stick
  14. root — the cause
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. branch — a division
  19. root — of a plant
  20. staff — employees
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. staff — employees
  24. root — of a word

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