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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. pop — music
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mine — for digging
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. prune — to trim
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. prune — to trim
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. pop — soda
  17. pop — to visit
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. foot — a measure
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mine — belonging to me

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