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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. track — a path
  4. saw — the tool
  5. row — to paddle
  6. prune — to trim
  7. track — a song
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pit — in a race
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. row — a line
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pass — a permit
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. track — to keep track
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. saw — the tool

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