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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 116 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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. craft — boats
  4. craft — a skill
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. object — to protest
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. spring — of water
  9. rock — music
  10. object — an aim
  11. suit — clothes
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. ball — a great time
  15. suit — to fit
  16. ball — a dance
  17. prune — to trim
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. suit — in cards
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rock — a stone
  22. spring — the season
  23. spring — a coil
  24. object — a thing

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