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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: cue · game · bore · current · stem · temple · lash · stock

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. current — happening now
  5. stock — shares
  6. cue — a signal
  7. stem — to come from
  8. current — of water
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. game — a match
  13. bore — to drill
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. cue — a hint
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bore — to tire
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. game — wild animals
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. current — electric

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