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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. march — the month
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. prune — to trim
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. lie — to recline
  8. prune — to trim
  9. march — music
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. rash — a series
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. march — the month
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. mug — a face
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wake — a trail
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. rash — hasty
  22. mug — to rob
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. prune — the fruit

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