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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 120 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 don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. prune — to trim
  3. spring — the season
  4. suit — in cards
  5. prune — to trim
  6. suit — to fit
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. current — happening now
  9. spring — of water
  10. current — of water
  11. rush — hurry
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. current — electric
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. suit — clothes
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. spring — a coil
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. snap — to click

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