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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: rash · stock · coach · stem · file · stick · leaves · deal

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. stem — to come from
  4. file — a tool
  5. stock — shares
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rash — hasty
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. file — a line of people
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. deal — to handle
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. file — a document
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stock — goods

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