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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 124 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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. squash — the sport
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. bulb — for light
  8. game — wild animals
  9. bulb — for light
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. game — a match
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. dip — to sink
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. saw — the tool
  22. squash — to crush
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. prune — to trim

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