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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 120 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: dip · trunk · wave · track · stem · scale · can · mate

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. scale — in music
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. track — to keep track
  5. can — a tin
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. scale — size or range
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. track — a song
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. stem — to come from
  19. mate — a friend
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. mate — a partner
  22. track — a path
  23. mate — to breed
  24. stem — a stem cell

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