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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. ball — a dance
  6. stem — to come from
  7. stock — shares
  8. bound — tied together
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bound — obliged
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. bound — certain
  17. stock — goods
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. cue — a signal
  20. ball — a great time
  21. cue — a hint
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. pitcher — a jug

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