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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: pop · suit · spell · roll · bulb · cue · trunk · chip

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bulb — for light
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. chip — for betting
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. pop — music
  11. cue — for pool
  12. suit — clothes
  13. suit — in cards
  14. spell — magic
  15. bulb — for light
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. spell — letters
  19. roll — a cake
  20. suit — to fit
  21. roll — a list
  22. spell — a short time
  23. pop — soda
  24. chip — to eat

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