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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: rest · rock · squash · ball · prune · stock · calf · swing

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. prune — to trim
  3. rock — a stone
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a dance
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rock — music
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. swing — to play on
  13. swing — in golf
  14. squash — to crush
  15. squash — the sport
  16. swing — music
  17. rest — a break
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. stock — shares
  20. prune — to trim
  21. stock — goods
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — what's left

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