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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: branch · spell · foot · stem · toast · wax · mouse · wound

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. branch — a division
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. wax — to grow
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. spell — letters
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. stem — to come from
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. spell — magic
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. spell — a short time
  20. toast — bread
  21. wound — an injury
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. foot — a measure
  24. wound — an injury

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