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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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rock — music
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. stem — to come from
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. rock — a stone
  19. stock — shares
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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