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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
468
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 · cap · cabinet · pass · branch · mug · temple · jam

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. mug — to rob
  3. stem — to come from
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. cap — of ice
  6. pass — a permit
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. mug — a face
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cap — a hat
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. mug — a cup
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cap — a lid
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. branch — a division
  24. jam — a tight spot

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