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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. cue — a hint
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. cue — a signal
  5. cue — for pool
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. suit — to fit
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. saw — the tool
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. perch — the fish
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. suit — in cards
  16. saw — the tool
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. prune — to trim
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. suit — clothes
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. lie — to recline

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