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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. present — there
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. prune — to trim
  6. branch — a division
  7. suit — clothes
  8. present — the time now
  9. suit — to fit
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. can — a tin
  13. suit — in cards
  14. can — a tin
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. prune — to trim
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. can — to be able to
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. present — a gift

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