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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: root · dip · chip · toast · tube · trunk · lean · rest

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. tube — a container
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. lean — thin
  5. rest — what's left
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. rest — a break
  10. root — of a plant
  11. lean — to bend
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. tube — the underground
  15. chip — for betting
  16. chip — to eat
  17. rest — what's left
  18. root — of a word
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. toast — bread
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. root — the cause
  24. lean — to rest against

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