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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: cabinet · mate · stem · bowl · foot · wound · branch · stand

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. mate — to breed
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. wound — an injury
  12. stand — to bear
  13. stem — to come from
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. foot — a measure
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wound — an injury
  19. mate — a partner
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. mate — a friend

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