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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: object · roll · prune · rush · sharp · cue · face · tube

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. tube — the underground
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. object — a thing
  5. tube — a container
  6. face — to confront
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. prune — to trim
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. prune — to trim
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. cue — a hint
  14. roll — a list
  15. roll — a cake
  16. object — an aim
  17. cue — a signal
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. object — to protest
  20. cue — for pool
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — hurry
  23. sharp — clever
  24. face — part of the head

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