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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.

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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: fan · jam · craft · tube · track · wake · ruler · stem

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. track — a path
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. craft — boats
  8. track — to keep track
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. wake — a trail
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. tube — a container
  14. track — a song
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. stem — to come from
  21. craft — a skill
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. tube — the underground

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