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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. prune — to trim
  8. squash — the sport
  9. rush — hurry
  10. net — in sport
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. squash — to crush
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. net — for catching
  19. net — after costs
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bear — the animal
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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