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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 116 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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468
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: racket · rush · lash · cue · suit · stem · spell · prune

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. cue — a hint
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. prune — to trim
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. suit — to fit
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. suit — clothes
  11. spell — a short time
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. stem — to come from
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. prune — to trim
  16. cue — a signal
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rush — hurry
  20. spell — letters
  21. spell — magic
  22. suit — in cards
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. lash — to lash out

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