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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: hide · dip · prune · rock · wound · tube · object · deal

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. rock — a stone
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. tube — a container
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. object — an aim
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. dip — to sink
  9. prune — to trim
  10. wound — an injury
  11. rock — music
  12. wound — an injury
  13. object — a thing
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. tube — the underground
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. prune — to trim
  20. object — to protest
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. deal — to handle
  24. hide — animal skin

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