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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. pit — a hole
  4. mug — a cup
  5. charge — electricity
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. charge — in control
  11. craft — boats
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — a stick
  15. prune — to trim
  16. craft — a skill
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bark — to shout
  19. charge — a price
  20. mug — to rob
  21. rock — music
  22. mug — a face
  23. pit — in a race
  24. craft — a handicraft

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