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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. prune — to trim
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mark — a trace
  9. mark — a grade
  10. wound — an injury
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. rock — music
  18. stem — to come from
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. prune — to trim
  24. safe — out of danger

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