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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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468
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 · calf · sharp · file · suit · trunk · bulb · mouse

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. file — a document
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. file — a line of people
  7. bulb — for light
  8. suit — in cards
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bulb — for light
  14. tube — the underground
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. suit — clothes
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. file — a tool
  24. sharp — clever

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