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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: stick · net · staff · last · safe · stem · scale · spell

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. scale — in music
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. last — finally
  5. stem — to come from
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. net — in sport
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — employees
  10. spell — a short time
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. spell — letters
  13. last — to go on
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. net — for catching
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. scale — size or range
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. staff — a stick
  21. last — final
  22. spell — magic
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. net — after costs

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