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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: trunk · nail · dip · roll · ruler · wake · key · tube

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. roll — a cake
  3. key — in music
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. tube — a container
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. key — the most important part
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. dip — to sink
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. tube — the underground
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. roll — a list
  18. wake — a trail
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. key — for a lock
  24. ruler — a monarch

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