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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. key — in music
  3. prune — to trim
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. kick — in football
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. current — electric
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. key — the most important part
  15. current — happening now
  16. key — for a lock
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. current — of water
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. stand — to bear
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. fan — a supporter

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