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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. rock — a stone
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — of water
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. chest — of your body
  7. foot — a measure
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. deal — to handle
  11. plane — a tool
  12. chest — of your body
  13. chest — a box
  14. prune — to trim
  15. current — electric
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. rock — music
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. prune — to trim
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. perch — the fish

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