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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. cap — a lid
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bound — certain
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. key — for a lock
  8. mug — a face
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. pitch — completely
  11. mug — to rob
  12. bound — tied together
  13. current — electric
  14. current — of water
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bound — obliged
  18. stem — to come from
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. current — happening now
  23. cap — a hat
  24. cap — of ice

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