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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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. bank — for money
  3. tube — a container
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bank — of a river
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. rock — a stone
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. wax — to grow
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. tube — the underground
  19. prune — to trim
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. bank — for money
  23. rock — music
  24. wax — in the ear

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