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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. current — of water
  4. current — electric
  5. pop — soda
  6. bass — the fish
  7. firm — decided
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. track — to keep track
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. pop — music
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. firm — a company
  16. track — a song
  17. prune — to trim
  18. current — happening now
  19. track — a path
  20. pop — to visit
  21. prune — to trim
  22. firm — steady
  23. plane — a tool
  24. bass — low music

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