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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. prune — to trim
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — for money
  6. prune — to trim
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. bound — obliged
  10. spell — letters
  11. spell — a short time
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. pound — a weight
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. bound — certain
  16. spring — of water
  17. spring — the season
  18. bound — tied together
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. bank — of a river
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. spell — magic
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. spring — a coil

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