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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: roll · charge · calf · pop · bulb · pitch · trunk · tube

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. charge — electricity
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. roll — a cake
  8. roll — a list
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pitch — completely
  14. bulb — for light
  15. pop — music
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. charge — in control
  18. bulb — for light
  19. charge — a price
  20. tube — a container
  21. pop — soda
  22. pop — to visit
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. tube — the underground

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