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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. rash — a series
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. firm — decided
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. rash — hasty
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. lie — to recline
  10. spell — a short time
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pass — a permit
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. prune — to trim
  16. spell — magic
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. firm — a company
  20. prune — to trim
  21. spell — letters
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. firm — steady

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