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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 116 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: suit · scale · lash · bay · root · branch · pit · stem

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. stem — to come from
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. pit — a hole
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. root — of a word
  8. scale — in music
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. scale — size or range
  11. branch — a division
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. suit — clothes
  16. pit — in a race
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. root — of a plant
  22. root — the cause
  23. suit — to fit
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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