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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  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. bank — for money
  2. prune — to trim
  3. date — the fruit
  4. roll — a list
  5. cue — a signal
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. toast — bread
  13. bank — for money
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. cue — for pool
  16. roll — a cake
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bank — of a river
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. date — on the calendar
  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