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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. roll — a list
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. prune — to trim
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. roll — a cake
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. prune — to trim
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. stand — to bear
  18. perch — the fish
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. pitcher — a jug

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