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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: trunk · stock · calf · lean · bulb · press · tube · mug

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. press — a publisher
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. lean — to bend
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. stock — goods
  7. tube — the underground
  8. press — to push
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. press — newspapers
  12. tube — a container
  13. lean — thin
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mug — a cup
  16. stock — shares
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a face
  24. calf — of the leg

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