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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. wound — an injury
  4. foot — a measure
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. file — a document
  9. file — a line of people
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. prune — to trim
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. file — a tool
  20. lie — to recline
  21. wound — an injury
  22. prune — to trim
  23. wake — a trail
  24. mouse — the animal

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