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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: pass · prune · pit · season · sharp · tear · arm · board

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  11. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. prune — to trim
  3. pit — a hole
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. season — of the year
  6. season — in sport
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. tear — to rip
  11. tear — from crying
  12. board — to get on
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. tear — from crying
  16. board — a committee
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. prune — to trim
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. sharp — clever
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. board — a flat piece

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