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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: key · stock · content · perch · spring · hide · stem · suit

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. spring — the season
  5. stem — to come from
  6. spring — of water
  7. suit — to fit
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. perch — the fish
  12. key — the most important part
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. key — in music
  15. suit — clothes
  16. key — for a lock
  17. content — the amount
  18. stock — shares
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. suit — in cards
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. content — happy
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. stock — goods

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