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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: craft · bear · rash · board · prune · cabinet · jam · rule

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. prune — to trim
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. craft — boats
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bear — the animal
  10. board — to get on
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. rule — a law
  16. board — a committee
  17. rule — government
  18. rash — hasty
  19. craft — a skill
  20. rash — a series
  21. bear — the animal
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. jam — in traffic

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