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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: coach · stock · nail · stem · sharp · bank · toast · key

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. key — in music
  3. bank — for money
  4. stock — shares
  5. bank — of a river
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bank — for money
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. toast — bread
  18. stock — goods
  19. key — the most important part
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. stem — to come from
  24. sharp — clever

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