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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.

Words on the sheet
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: rash · track · prune · mark · ruler · bank · perch · tube

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. track — to keep track
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bank — of a river
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. track — a song
  8. mark — a trace
  9. perch — the fish
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rash — a series
  13. tube — a container
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. bank — for money
  16. track — a path
  17. tube — the underground
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — hasty
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bank — for money
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. perch — for a bird

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