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

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. bank — of a river
  3. rock — music
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. shower — to wash
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bank — for money
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. cue — a hint
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. rock — a stone
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. stock — shares
  18. shower — rain
  19. dip — to sink
  20. cue — a signal
  21. stock — goods
  22. stem — to come from
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. bank — for money

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