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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: roll · stem · lie · bank · branch · prune · cabinet · mate

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bank — for money
  3. bank — of a river
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. branch — a division
  6. mate — a partner
  7. lie — to recline
  8. bank — for money
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. prune — to trim
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. prune — to trim
  15. mate — a friend
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. stem — to come from
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. roll — a list
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. mate — to breed
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. roll — a cake

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