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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: rash · fine · bulb · can · ground · prune · mouse · arm

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. ground — the earth
  7. fine — all right
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. ground — a position
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — high quality
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. can — a tin
  18. ground — crushed
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rash — hasty
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. bulb — for light
  24. rash — a series

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