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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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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: bulb · tube · sharp · trunk · wave · cue · can · firm

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. cue — a signal
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. tube — the underground
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bulb — for light
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. firm — decided
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. sharp — clever
  15. can — a tin
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cue — for pool
  18. firm — steady
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. bulb — for light
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. tube — a container
  24. bulb — of a plant

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