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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: stem · prune · ruler · rock · rush · track · ball · swing

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. swing — music
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. prune — to trim
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — a stone
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. stem — to come from
  9. ball — a dance
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. track — a path
  12. rush — hurry
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. track — a song
  15. rock — music
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. swing — in golf
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. track — to keep track
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. prune — to trim
  23. ball — a great time
  24. swing — to play on

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