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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: leaves · chip · root · nail · rash · cue · stock · tube

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. stock — shares
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. cue — a hint
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. cue — a signal
  7. stock — goods
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. cue — for pool
  12. tube — the underground
  13. rash — a series
  14. root — of a word
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. chip — for betting
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. tube — a container
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. root — the cause
  23. rash — hasty
  24. tube — in a tire

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