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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: cue · bark · net · mouse · bore · stock · bound · stem

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. cue — a signal
  6. net — for catching
  7. net — after costs
  8. stock — shares
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. bound — obliged
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. bark — to shout
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. bore — to tire
  20. net — in sport
  21. bound — certain
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stock — goods
  24. mouse — the animal

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