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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: cap · trunk · rock · drill · track · wax · dip · bowl

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. drill — a practice
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. track — a path
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. cap — of ice
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. wax — to grow
  13. cap — a lid
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. track — to keep track
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — a stone
  19. drill — the tool
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. dip — to sink
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. track — a song
  24. bowl — a dish

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