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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. prune — to trim
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. key — the most important part
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bear — the animal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wake — a trail
  12. mug — a face
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. rock — music
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rock — a stone
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. key — in music
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. mug — a cup
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. key — for a lock

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