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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 116 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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. prune — to trim
  3. mate — to breed
  4. lean — to bend
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mug — to rob
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. mine — for digging
  11. prune — to trim
  12. fork — in a road
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. rush — hurry
  17. lean — thin
  18. mate — a partner
  19. mug — a face
  20. mate — a friend
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. fork — to eat with

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