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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 120 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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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: stem · stick · ruler · chair · bass · arm · ground · stock

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stock — shares
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. ground — crushed
  8. ground — a position
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bass — low music
  11. chair — a leader
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. ground — the earth
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. stock — goods
  16. stem — to come from
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. bass — the fish
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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