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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 116 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. mine — for digging
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. bear — the animal
  8. squash — the sport
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mug — to rob
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — to trim
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mark — a trace
  18. bound — tied together
  19. mug — a cup
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. squash — to crush
  23. mug — a face
  24. bound — certain

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