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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: root · snap · sharp · prune · rock · saw · pass · march

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. root — of a word
  6. saw — the tool
  7. rock — a stone
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — clever
  11. march — the month
  12. root — the cause
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. root — of a plant
  16. march — the month
  17. snap — to click
  18. march — music
  19. saw — the tool
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — to trim
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pass — a permit

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