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

Word bank: board · trunk · club · stock · rush · row · safe · stem

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. row — to paddle
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. stock — goods
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. club — a group
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. club — for golf
  16. rush — hurry
  17. board — a committee
  18. stock — shares
  19. row — a line
  20. board — to get on
  21. club — for dancing
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. safe — out of danger
  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