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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
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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: wake · mark · leaves · staff · branch · key · snap · stem

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. snap — to click
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. key — for a lock
  6. mark — a trace
  7. branch — a division
  8. mark — a grade
  9. staff — a stick
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. staff — employees
  12. key — in music
  13. wake — a trail
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. staff — employees
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. stem — to come from
  24. key — the most important part

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