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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: prune · chip · mug · bulb · pass · wound · fall · saw

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. fall — to drop
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. mug — a cup
  6. prune — to trim
  7. chip — to eat
  8. pass — a permit
  9. bulb — for light
  10. fall — to drop
  11. prune — to trim
  12. saw — the tool
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. chip — for betting
  15. fall — the season
  16. bulb — for light
  17. wound — an injury
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. wound — an injury
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. mug — to rob
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. mug — a face

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