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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: mouse · drill · trunk · bass · root · cabinet · tube · suit

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. root — of a word
  4. drill — army training
  5. tube — a container
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. drill — the tool
  8. tube — the underground
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. suit — clothes
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. root — of a plant
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bass — the fish
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. drill — a practice
  20. bass — low music
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. root — the cause
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. cabinet — ministers

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