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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: wax · firm · pitcher · stand · chip · bore · cabinet · stem

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bore — to drill
  5. wax — to grow
  6. chip — to eat
  7. chip — for betting
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. firm — a company
  18. stem — to come from
  19. firm — steady
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bore — to tire
  23. firm — decided
  24. wax — in the ear

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