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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: dip · tube · kid · chip · key · track · bulb · ground

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. bulb — for light
  3. track — a path
  4. tube — a container
  5. key — in music
  6. kid — to tease
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bulb — for light
  9. ground — a position
  10. ground — crushed
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. key — the most important part
  13. track — to keep track
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. track — a song
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. ground — the earth
  19. key — for a lock
  20. dip — to sink
  21. chip — for betting
  22. chip — to eat
  23. kid — child
  24. tube — the underground

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