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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. dip — to sink
  5. drill — army training
  6. bound — certain
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. drill — a practice
  11. tube — a container
  12. tube — the underground
  13. drill — the tool
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. lean — to bend
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bound — tied together
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bound — obliged
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lean — thin
  23. prune — to trim
  24. dip — to dunk

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