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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  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 — the fruit
  2. charge — in control
  3. firm — steady
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. lean — thin
  8. prune — to trim
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. roll — a list
  11. firm — a company
  12. charge — a price
  13. firm — decided
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. roll — a cake
  16. row — to paddle
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. row — a line
  19. object — a thing
  20. charge — electricity
  21. object — to protest
  22. lean — to bend
  23. object — an aim
  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