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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 116 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: cell · fine · calf · stock · bank · rush · nail · stem

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. stem — to come from
  4. cell — in biology
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — for money
  13. rush — hurry
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. fine — all right
  20. stock — goods
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fine — high quality
  23. stock — shares
  24. cell — a phone

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