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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. rash — a series
  3. rash — hasty
  4. file — a tool
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pass — a permit
  8. file — a document
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. prune — to trim
  13. deal — to handle
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. saw — the tool
  16. roll — a list
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. roll — a cake
  22. file — a line of people
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. prune — to trim

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