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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: stand · suit · stem · hide · cue · hand · tube · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. suit — clothes
  4. cue — a signal
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. suit — in cards
  11. tube — the underground
  12. stem — to come from
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. hand — help
  15. suit — to fit
  16. tube — a container
  17. cue — for pool
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. hand — in cards
  20. cue — a hint
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. stand — to bear
  23. foot — a measure
  24. stand — for spectators

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