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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: stem · rest · lean · rock · safe · mine · stock · pit

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. rest — what's left
  3. pit — in a race
  4. stock — goods
  5. rock — music
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stock — shares
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rest — what's left
  10. pit — a hole
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. lean — thin
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rest — a break
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stem — to come from
  21. rock — a stone
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. lean — to bend

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