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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: current · prune · lie · mug · fine · wave · firm · pit

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. lie — to recline
  3. fine — all right
  4. current — electric
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. prune — to trim
  7. current — happening now
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. firm — decided
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — a face
  14. pit — in a race
  15. prune — to trim
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. fine — high quality
  19. firm — a company
  20. current — of water
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. pit — a hole
  23. firm — steady
  24. fine — a penalty

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