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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rash — hasty
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bulb — for light
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bulb — for light
  15. prune — to trim
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. racket — a loud noise

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