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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 120 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: prune · ball · pop · object · suit · chip · fan · bear

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. pop — music
  3. chip — to eat
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. object — an aim
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bear — the animal
  8. prune — to trim
  9. object — to protest
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. suit — clothes
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. prune — to trim
  14. ball — a dance
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. chip — for betting
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bear — the animal
  20. suit — in cards
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. suit — to fit
  23. pop — soda
  24. pop — to visit

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