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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. ball — a great time
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. cap — a hat
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. ball — a dance
  9. prune — to trim
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. suit — in cards
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. suit — to fit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. charge — electricity
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. cap — a lid
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. charge — in control
  22. cap — of ice
  23. charge — a price
  24. suit — clothes

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