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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: craft · pop · stem · cue · rock · game · firm · ball

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. stem — to come from
  4. cue — for pool
  5. pop — to visit
  6. firm — steady
  7. pop — music
  8. game — a match
  9. rock — a stone
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. cue — a hint
  13. pop — soda
  14. firm — decided
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. game — wild animals
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. cue — a signal
  19. ball — a dance
  20. rock — music
  21. ball — a great time
  22. firm — a company
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. craft — boats

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