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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. firm — decided
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. firm — a company
  5. pass — a permit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. fine — all right
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. fine — high quality
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. firm — steady
  16. mug — a face
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. prune — to trim
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. foot — a measure
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. foot — part of the body

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