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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
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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: snap · lash · pit · rush · season · coach · prune · wake

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  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. lash — an eyelash
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. season — in sport
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pit — a hole
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. season — of the year
  12. snap — to click
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. wake — a trail
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. pit — in a race
  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