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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stock · stand · fan · branch · temple · root · bank · toast

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. toast — bread
  4. root — of a word
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. branch — a division
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. root — the cause
  16. bank — for money
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. stand — to bear
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. bank — of a river
  22. stock — goods
  23. root — of a plant
  24. stock — shares

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