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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: stock · lash · mouse · stem · key · trunk · root · fine

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. key — the most important part
  6. stem — to come from
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. fine — all right
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. root — of a plant
  13. key — in music
  14. key — for a lock
  15. fine — high quality
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. stock — shares
  19. root — the cause
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. root — of a word

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