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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 116 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: stem · branch · pass · season · fine · press · row · leaves

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. branch — a division
  4. press — newspapers
  5. stem — to come from
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. row — to paddle
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. press — to push
  13. row — a line
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. season — of the year
  17. pass — a permit
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. fine — high quality
  20. press — a publisher
  21. fine — all right
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. season — in sport
  24. stem — of a plant

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