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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: prune · lean · current · plane · pass · stock · bulb · bore

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. bore — to tire
  4. current — electric
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. prune — to trim
  7. lean — thin
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stock — goods
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bulb — for light
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. lean — to bend
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. current — of water
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stock — shares
  22. plane — a tool
  23. current — happening now
  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