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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. object — a thing
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. tube — the underground
  8. can — to be able to
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. tube — a container
  11. object — to protest
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rock — a stone
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. mark — a grade
  16. prune — to trim
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. can — a tin
  19. prune — to trim
  20. can — a tin
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rock — music
  23. mark — a trace
  24. object — an aim

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