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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. stock — goods
  3. tube — a container
  4. can — a tin
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. suit — clothes
  9. staff — employees
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. sharp — clever
  13. suit — in cards
  14. staff — employees
  15. staff — a stick
  16. can — a tin
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. stock — shares
  19. can — to be able to
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. suit — to fit
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. tube — the underground
  24. stem — to come from

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