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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: root · tube · bay · bore · chip · wave · stock · cabinet

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. root — of a word
  5. stock — shares
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. tube — the underground
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. chip — to eat
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. root — the cause
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. tube — a container
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. chip — for betting
  21. root — of a plant
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bore — to drill
  24. stock — goods

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