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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mug — a cup
  4. roll — a list
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. lean — to bend
  7. roll — a cake
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. deal — to handle
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. prune — to trim
  13. fine — all right
  14. can — a tin
  15. lean — thin
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. mug — a face
  24. prune — to trim

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