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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. prune — to trim
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. fine — all right
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. can — to be able to
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. current — happening now
  16. prune — to trim
  17. current — of water
  18. firm — a company
  19. firm — steady
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — electric
  22. fine — high quality
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. firm — decided

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