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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  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. prune — to trim
  2. cue — a signal
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. content — the amount
  5. fall — the season
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. fall — to drop
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. prune — to trim
  13. rush — hurry
  14. squash — the sport
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. content — happy
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. fall — to drop
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. cue — a hint
  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