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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. pit — in a race
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. pit — a hole
  7. toast — bread
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. hand — in cards
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mate — a partner
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mate — a friend
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mate — to breed
  23. hand — help
  24. wave — of the sea

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