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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. suit — clothes
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. prune — to trim
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rash — hasty
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. mug — a face
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. prune — to trim
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. suit — to fit
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — to rob
  19. saw — the tool
  20. stem — to come from
  21. deal — to handle
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rash — a series

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