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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.

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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: tube · current · chip · row · drill · bore · root · shower

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. root — of a plant
  3. row — to paddle
  4. root — the cause
  5. row — a line
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. chip — for betting
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. current — happening now
  11. root — of a word
  12. tube — the underground
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. bore — to drill
  15. current — of water
  16. chip — to eat
  17. drill — a practice
  18. drill — army training
  19. shower — to wash
  20. shower — rain
  21. drill — the tool
  22. current — electric
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. bore — to tire

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