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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 · stem · calf · can · toast · bay · tube · foot

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. tube — a container
  6. toast — bread
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. can — to be able to
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. stem — to come from
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. foot — a measure
  24. stem — a stem cell

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