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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 120 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: fan · snap · last · rock · bass · object · leaves · stem

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. last — to go on
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. bass — low music
  6. object — to protest
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. object — an aim
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. last — finally
  13. last — final
  14. snap — to click
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bass — the fish
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. stem — to come from
  24. object — a thing

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