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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: tube · dip · prune · pass · cue · foot · branch · wave

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. cue — a signal
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. prune — to trim
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. cue — for pool
  9. dip — to sink
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. prune — to trim
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. foot — a measure
  14. cue — a hint
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — a container
  20. branch — a division
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. pass — a permit
  24. dip — to dunk

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