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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. firm — a company
  4. mug — to rob
  5. firm — decided
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. prune — to trim
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. hand — in cards
  10. can — to be able to
  11. wound — an injury
  12. firm — steady
  13. prune — to trim
  14. can — a tin
  15. board — a committee
  16. mug — a cup
  17. hand — help
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — a stone
  21. can — a tin
  22. rock — music
  23. board — to get on
  24. mug — a face

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