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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 120 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: can · rush · rest · mate · suit · stem · branch · bear

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rush — hurry
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. rest — what's left
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mate — a friend
  12. can — a tin
  13. suit — clothes
  14. suit — in cards
  15. mate — to breed
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — a division
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. mate — a partner
  21. stem — to come from
  22. rest — a break
  23. suit — to fit
  24. can — to be able to

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