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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: charge · net · squash · jam · stem · leaves · trunk · roll

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. net — after costs
  8. roll — a list
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. charge — a price
  12. charge — electricity
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. charge — in control
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. squash — to crush
  17. net — for catching
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. net — in sport
  21. squash — the sport
  22. roll — a cake
  23. stem — to come from
  24. leaves — lets stay

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