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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. rock — a stone
  3. key — the most important part
  4. prune — to trim
  5. game — wild animals
  6. season — in sport
  7. roll — a list
  8. firm — decided
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. game — a match
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. firm — a company
  14. season — of the year
  15. key — for a lock
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — the tool
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. rock — music
  20. firm — steady
  21. key — in music
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. roll — a cake

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