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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 116 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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. current — electric
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. current — of water
  6. tube — the underground
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. chip — for betting
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. board — to get on
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. board — a committee
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. wax — to grow
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. current — happening now
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. tube — a container
  23. chip — to eat
  24. rock — music

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