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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. rest — what's left
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. prune — to trim
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rock — a stone
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rash — hasty
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rest — what's left
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. rock — music
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rest — a break
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. racket — for tennis

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