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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. branch — a division
  5. cue — for pool
  6. cue — a signal
  7. dip — to sink
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cue — a hint
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. prune — to trim
  19. deal — to handle
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. sharp — clever
  24. prune — the fruit

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