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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: stick · clip · tube · calf · bulb · mark · trunk · coach

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mark — a grade
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. mark — a trace
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. tube — the underground
  12. clip — for paper
  13. clip — a video
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bulb — for light
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. tube — a container
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. clip — to cut
  24. bulb — for light

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