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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.

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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: deal · key · mark · pound · rock · prune · bulb · saw

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. mark — a grade
  3. saw — the tool
  4. prune — to trim
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. saw — the tool
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mark — a trace
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bulb — for light
  19. key — in music
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rock — music
  22. key — for a lock
  23. key — the most important part
  24. deal — a big deal

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