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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stem · deal · nail · safe · season · stock · firm · cue

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. season — in sport
  4. firm — steady
  5. deal — to handle
  6. cue — for pool
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. firm — decided
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. stock — shares
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cue — a signal
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. cue — a hint
  17. stock — goods
  18. season — of the year
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. firm — a company
  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