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

Word bank: stem · wake · trunk · cue · coach · court · plane · stock

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. stock — shares
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. stock — goods
  8. court — of law
  9. wake — a trail
  10. plane — a tool
  11. cue — for pool
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. cue — a hint
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. court — of a king
  18. court — for sport
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. stem — to come from
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. cue — a signal
  24. wake — before a funeral

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