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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: stock · safe · stem · cabinet · coach · pitcher · wake · pass

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. pass — a permit
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. stock — goods
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stem — to come from
  19. stock — shares
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. wake — a trail
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. coach — a trainer

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