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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 · trunk · wake · stock · fall · season · bank · mug

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. mug — to rob
  3. fall — the season
  4. bank — for money
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bank — for money
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. fall — to drop
  10. tube — the underground
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. tube — a container
  15. stock — shares
  16. mug — a face
  17. bank — of a river
  18. stock — goods
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. fall — to drop
  21. season — in sport
  22. season — of the year
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. trunk — of a car

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