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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: rock · ball · chest · squash · can · deal · prune · bay

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  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. can — a tin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. can — to be able to
  5. chest — a box
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. can — a tin
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. chest — of your body
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. prune — to trim
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. squash — the sport
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. squash — to crush
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. chest — of your body
  23. ball — a dance
  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