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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: spell · pass · prune · row · cue · foot · toast · content

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. row — to paddle
  3. spell — letters
  4. cue — for pool
  5. spell — a short time
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. prune — to trim
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. content — happy
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. prune — to trim
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. row — a line
  19. cue — a hint
  20. toast — bread
  21. foot — a measure
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. cue — a signal
  24. spell — magic

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