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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: stem · leaves · bass · fine · mug · bound · branch · field

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. branch — a division
  3. field — farmland
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bass — the fish
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. stem — to come from
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bass — low music
  13. field — a subject
  14. mug — to rob
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bound — obliged
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. fine — all right
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mug — a face
  23. bound — certain
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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