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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: lean · present · deal · pitcher · bass · charge · prune · trunk

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. present — the time now
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bass — low music
  5. present — there
  6. prune — to trim
  7. charge — electricity
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. prune — to trim
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. present — a gift
  13. charge — in control
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. lean — to bend
  18. bass — the fish
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. charge — a price
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. deal — to handle
  24. lean — thin

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