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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: last · ruler · rock · bowl · safe · net · hide · prune

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. net — for catching
  5. prune — to trim
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. last — final
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. net — after costs
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. net — in sport
  13. last — finally
  14. last — to go on
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. prune — to trim
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bowl — a football final

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