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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. prune — to trim
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. mug — a cup
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. sharp — clever
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. mug — a face
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. foot — a measure
  21. track — a song
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. track — a path

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