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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. bulb — for light
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. foot — a measure
  7. key — in music
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. key — the most important part
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. rock — music
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. hand — help
  21. rock — a stone
  22. prune — to trim
  23. key — for a lock
  24. hand — in cards

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