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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: can · foot · branch · mark · board · stem · bay · calf

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. stem — to come from
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. mark — a grade
  7. foot — a measure
  8. mark — a trace
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. can — to be able to
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. can — a tin
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. board — to get on
  19. board — a committee
  20. can — a tin
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. mark — to pay attention

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