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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.

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: cabinet · stock · cue · arm · fine · wax · mate · stem

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cue — a hint
  4. cue — for pool
  5. stock — shares
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. mate — a partner
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. stock — goods
  11. cue — a signal
  12. wax — to grow
  13. stem — to come from
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. mate — a friend
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fine — all right
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. fine — high quality

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