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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 · track · pop · branch · can · drill · stock · bulb

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. pop — soda
  4. stock — shares
  5. drill — army training
  6. can — a tin
  7. track — to keep track
  8. tube — the underground
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. branch — a division
  13. track — a path
  14. can — a tin
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. pop — to visit
  17. track — a song
  18. can — to be able to
  19. pop — music
  20. drill — the tool
  21. bulb — for light
  22. tube — a container
  23. drill — a practice
  24. branch — of a bank

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