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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. drill — army training
  4. drill — the tool
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. spell — letters
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. spell — magic
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. prune — to trim
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. mark — a grade
  17. tube — a container
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. spell — a short time
  20. mark — a trace
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. drill — a practice
  23. tube — the underground
  24. mark — to pay attention

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