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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: pitch · cue · stem · mug · rash · bank · snap · bore

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. bank — of a river
  4. mug — a cup
  5. bank — for money
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bore — to drill
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. mug — to rob
  14. cue — a hint
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. pitch — completely
  17. snap — to click
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bank — for money
  20. rash — hasty
  21. cue — a signal
  22. stem — to come from
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. mug — a face

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