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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. wax — to grow
  4. craft — boats
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rock — a stone
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. rest — a break
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. prune — to trim
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. rock — music
  18. craft — a skill
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. rest — what's left
  21. prune — to trim
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. kick — in football

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