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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. tube — a container
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. stem — to come from
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. rush — hurry
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. bulb — for light
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. tube — the underground
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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