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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cue · chip · track · wave · tube · fan · fork · rock

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. track — a path
  3. tube — the underground
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. track — to keep track
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. cue — a hint
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. chip — for betting
  13. rock — music
  14. fork — in a road
  15. cue — a signal
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. cue — for pool
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. tube — a container
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. chip — to eat
  23. rock — a stone
  24. track — a song

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