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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. prune — to trim
  4. roll — a list
  5. cue — a signal
  6. mug — to rob
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. cue — a hint
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mug — a cup
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mug — a face
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. vault — a safe
  18. dip — to sink
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. prune — to trim
  21. cue — for pool
  22. roll — a cake
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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