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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: stock · mouse · leaves · lash · tube · mug · root · wind

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. stock — goods
  9. wind — moving air
  10. root — the cause
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — a face
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. root — of a plant
  15. wind — moving air
  16. mug — to rob
  17. stock — shares
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. tube — a container
  21. tube — the underground
  22. root — of a word
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. leaves — of a tree

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