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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: bass · bay · stem · current · stand · branch · firm · plane

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. stem — to come from
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. current — happening now
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. current — of water
  8. stand — to bear
  9. firm — a company
  10. branch — a division
  11. plane — a tool
  12. firm — steady
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. current — electric
  16. bass — the fish
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. bass — low music
  24. firm — decided

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