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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 120 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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rock — music
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. hand — help
  6. bound — certain
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bound — tied together
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. rock — a stone
  11. can — a tin
  12. tube — a container
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. prune — to trim
  15. can — a tin
  16. object — a thing
  17. object — to protest
  18. object — an aim
  19. hand — in cards
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. prune — to trim
  22. can — to be able to
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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