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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
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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: deal · tube · calf · track · root · spell · foot · wax

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. spell — a short time
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. wax — to grow
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. root — of a word
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. foot — a measure
  11. tube — a container
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. deal — to handle
  15. track — a song
  16. spell — letters
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. track — a path
  19. tube — the underground
  20. spell — magic
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. track — to keep track
  23. root — of a plant
  24. foot — part of the body

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