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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: branch · pitcher · toast · wave · row · stem · dip · nail

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. toast — bread
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. row — to paddle
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — a division
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. row — a line
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. dip — to sink
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. stem — to come from

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