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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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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: hand · pitch · arm · prune · wound · toast · safe · ruler

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pitch — completely
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. hand — in cards
  7. wound — an injury
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. prune — to trim
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. wound — an injury
  22. hand — help
  23. toast — bread
  24. prune — to trim

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