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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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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: stand · can · row · staff · stem · firm · dip · rock

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. rock — music
  3. row — to paddle
  4. rock — a stone
  5. staff — employees
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — to bear
  10. row — a line
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. firm — decided
  13. staff — employees
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. staff — a stick
  16. can — to be able to
  17. firm — steady
  18. can — a tin
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. dip — to sink
  22. stem — to come from
  23. firm — a company
  24. can — a tin

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