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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bear — the animal
  5. plane — a tool
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mine — for digging
  18. prune — to trim
  19. bear — the animal
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. prune — to trim
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — for spectators

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