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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: mark · track · calf · branch · current · suit · stem · cabinet

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a trace
  4. branch — a division
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. current — electric
  8. suit — to fit
  9. track — a song
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. track — a path
  13. current — of water
  14. suit — clothes
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. stem — to come from
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. track — to keep track
  22. current — happening now
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mark — a grade

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