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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: branch · deal · track · net · stem · stick · bound · hide

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  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. net — for catching
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. track — a song
  4. track — a path
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. branch — a division
  7. stem — to come from
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. bound — certain
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. net — after costs
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. track — to keep track
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. deal — to handle
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. bound — tied together
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bound — obliged
  21. net — in sport
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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