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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 116 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: stem · tube · sharp · fine · trunk · wind · firm · dip

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. firm — steady
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. wind — moving air
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. tube — a container
  12. dip — to sink
  13. wind — moving air
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. fine — high quality
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. firm — decided
  18. fine — all right
  19. sharp — clever
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. tube — the underground
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. stem — to come from
  24. firm — a company

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