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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. suit — in cards
  3. current — of water
  4. prune — to trim
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. prune — to trim
  8. suit — to fit
  9. fine — high quality
  10. lean — to bend
  11. fall — to drop
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. fall — to drop
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. lean — thin
  16. fall — the season
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. current — happening now
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. stem — to come from
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. current — electric
  24. fine — all right

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