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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: bank · board · stock · wax · pop · stem · saw · charge

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. board — to get on
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. bank — for money
  6. charge — a price
  7. bank — of a river
  8. pop — soda
  9. charge — in control
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. pop — to visit
  14. charge — electricity
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stock — shares
  17. saw — the tool
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. pop — music
  20. board — a committee
  21. wax — to grow
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. stock — goods
  24. bank — for money

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