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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 120 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 · present · mug · ball · bore · can · root · stock

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. mug — to rob
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. can — to be able to
  5. present — there
  6. present — the time now
  7. root — of a plant
  8. stock — shares
  9. bore — to drill
  10. stem — to come from
  11. root — of a word
  12. can — a tin
  13. mug — a face
  14. mug — a cup
  15. can — a tin
  16. root — the cause
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. bore — to tire
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. stock — goods
  23. present — a gift
  24. ball — a dance

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