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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: lean · root · chip · cabinet · rush · bore · prune · fan

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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. lean — thin
  4. chip — for betting
  5. rush — hurry
  6. prune — to trim
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bore — to tire
  11. root — of a word
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. root — of a plant
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bore — to drill
  19. root — the cause
  20. chip — to eat
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rush — to hurry

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