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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. firm — a company
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. can — to be able to
  6. prune — to trim
  7. foot — a measure
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. can — a tin
  11. mug — a cup
  12. can — a tin
  13. squash — to crush
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. squash — the sport
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bulb — for light
  21. mug — a face
  22. firm — decided
  23. bulb — for light
  24. firm — steady

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