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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ball — a great time
  8. net — in sport
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — clothes
  13. cell — in biology
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — after costs
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. cell — a phone
  21. prune — to trim
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. suit — to fit

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