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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. prune — to trim
  6. cue — for pool
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. rock — music
  9. prune — to trim
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. stand — to bear
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. cue — a signal
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. cue — a hint
  22. wake — a trail
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. rock — a stone

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