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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stock · stem · firm · fine · leaves · suit · sharp · pitch

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. fine — high quality
  3. fine — all right
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. firm — a company
  9. stock — goods
  10. suit — in cards
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. stem — to come from
  13. firm — steady
  14. sharp — clever
  15. stock — shares
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. suit — to fit
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. firm — decided
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. pitch — completely
  24. suit — clothes

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