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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. file — a document
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. mug — a cup
  6. file — a line of people
  7. rash — a series
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bulb — for light
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rash — hasty
  12. mug — a face
  13. suit — to fit
  14. bulb — for light
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. suit — in cards
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. file — a tool
  20. suit — clothes
  21. mug — to rob
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wax — to grow
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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