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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: pitcher · ruler · stand · mark · bear · net · stem · bank

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bank — for money
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. stand — to bear
  13. mark — a trace
  14. net — in sport
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. net — after costs
  20. bank — for money
  21. net — for catching
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. stand — on your feet

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