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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: fork · branch · fan · bulb · stock · mark · arm · stem

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stock — goods
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. stem — to come from
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. branch — a division
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stock — shares
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. mark — a trace
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. mark — a grade
  21. fork — in a road
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. fork — to eat with

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