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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: racket · object · stock · kid · mine · cue · stem · trunk

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. stem — to come from
  5. stock — shares
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. cue — for pool
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. stock — goods
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. cue — a hint
  16. mine — for digging
  17. kid — child
  18. object — a thing
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. object — to protest
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. kid — to tease
  23. cue — a signal
  24. stock — a soup base

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