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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: pass · stem · bear · patient · bass · branch · cue · fan

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cue — a signal
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. bass — low music
  8. cue — for pool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — the animal
  13. pass — a permit
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stem — to come from
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bass — the fish
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. patient — a sick person

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