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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pass — a permit
  4. firm — steady
  5. can — a tin
  6. cue — a signal
  7. tube — a container
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. band — a music group
  12. firm — decided
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. tube — the underground
  15. can — a tin
  16. band — a ring
  17. firm — a company
  18. cue — a hint
  19. cue — for pool
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. can — to be able to
  24. tube — in a tire

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