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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: dip · roll · mine · ruler · object · tube · wax · foot

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. object — a thing
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. roll — a list
  8. object — an aim
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. foot — a measure
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. tube — a container
  17. dip — to sink
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. object — to protest
  22. tube — the underground
  23. roll — a cake
  24. mine — for digging

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