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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: chip · rock · roll · mug · stem · staff · dip · stock

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mug — a face
  4. stock — goods
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — to eat
  7. roll — a cake
  8. dip — to sink
  9. stem — to come from
  10. mug — a cup
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rock — music
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. stock — shares
  19. staff — a stick
  20. mug — to rob
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. roll — a list
  24. staff — employees

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