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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: tube · track · safe · trunk · squash · wax · foot · bulb

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. track — a path
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. track — a song
  6. tube — a container
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. squash — to crush
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. foot — a measure
  16. tube — the underground
  17. wax — to grow
  18. squash — the sport
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — for light
  24. track — to keep track

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