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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: mark · date · prune · rash · mug · bass · craft · bowl

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. craft — a skill
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mug — a face
  7. craft — boats
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bass — low music
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bass — the fish
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. rash — hasty
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. rash — a series
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. mug — a cup

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