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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. stock — shares
  4. staff — a stick
  5. toast — bread
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. staff — employees
  9. key — in music
  10. vault — a safe
  11. stem — to come from
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. staff — employees
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. key — for a lock
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. deal — to handle
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. key — the most important part
  23. stock — goods
  24. mouse — for a computer

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