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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. rush — hurry
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. stand — to bear
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. mate — a friend
  9. pit — a hole
  10. mate — to breed
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. prune — to trim
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. fine — all right
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. mate — a partner
  24. pit — in a race

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