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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: jam · lean · object · bay · prune · current · dip · spring

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. current — of water
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. spring — of water
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. lean — to bend
  8. lean — thin
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. spring — a coil
  11. object — an aim
  12. current — happening now
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. dip — to sink
  15. current — electric
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. prune — to trim
  18. object — to protest
  19. prune — to trim
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. object — a thing
  24. lean — to rest against

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