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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 120 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: pitcher · pass · pound · prune · ruler · key · face · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. key — for a lock
  5. face — part of the head
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. face — to point toward
  8. pound — a weight
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. key — in music
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. prune — to trim
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. face — to confront
  22. pass — a permit
  23. prune — to trim
  24. pound — for dogs

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