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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fall — to drop
  3. track — to keep track
  4. pit — in a race
  5. fall — the season
  6. pit — a hole
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. track — a song
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rest — what's left
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rest — a break
  16. bulb — for light
  17. track — a path
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. rest — what's left
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. fall — to drop
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. jam — in traffic

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