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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.

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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: fan · lie · net · wake · rush · bore · stem · bank

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. wake — a trail
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bank — for money
  7. net — after costs
  8. net — in sport
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. stem — to come from
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. bore — to tire
  13. net — for catching
  14. bank — of a river
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lie — to recline
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bore — to drill
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bank — for money

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