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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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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: mark · charge · cue · foot · stem · branch · coach · dip

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. mark — a trace
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. dip — to sink
  6. mark — a grade
  7. cue — a signal
  8. branch — a division
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. cue — a hint
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. charge — a price
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. charge — in control
  18. stem — to come from
  19. charge — electricity
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. foot — a measure
  24. cue — for pool

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