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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 120 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 · stock · face · staff · tube · perch · can · arm

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. staff — employees
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. perch — the fish
  6. can — to be able to
  7. face — to point toward
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. can — a tin
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. staff — employees
  13. face — part of the head
  14. stock — goods
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. can — a tin
  17. tube — the underground
  18. stem — to come from
  19. tube — a container
  20. stock — shares
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. staff — a stick
  24. face — to confront

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