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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: calf · wound · snap · stem · cue · wax · ruler · stock

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. wax — to grow
  3. wound — an injury
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. cue — a hint
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. cue — for pool
  10. wound — an injury
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. stock — goods
  15. cue — a signal
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. stem — to come from
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. stock — shares
  24. snap — to click

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