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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 120 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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. bear — the animal
  3. mark — a grade
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pit — in a race
  11. prune — to trim
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mark — a trace
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. wake — a trail
  19. squash — the sport
  20. rush — hurry
  21. pit — a hole
  22. lie — to recline
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. squash — to crush

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