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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: wave · prune · hide · can · tube · board · root · staff

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. board — a committee
  3. tube — a container
  4. staff — employees
  5. prune — to trim
  6. root — the cause
  7. prune — to trim
  8. can — a tin
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. tube — the underground
  12. can — to be able to
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. root — of a word
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. staff — a stick
  20. board — to get on
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. staff — employees
  23. root — of a plant
  24. can — a tin

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