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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. current — happening now
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. tube — a container
  5. pass — a permit
  6. band — a music group
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. prune — to trim
  9. band — a ring
  10. prune — to trim
  11. stand — to bear
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cue — for pool
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. current — of water
  18. cue — a hint
  19. tube — the underground
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. current — electric
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. band — a rubber band

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