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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: hand · can · prune · lie · mug · rush · craft · bear

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. rush — hurry
  3. bear — the animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. hand — in cards
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mug — a face
  11. prune — to trim
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. craft — boats
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. craft — a skill
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. can — to be able to
  23. hand — help
  24. mug — to rob

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