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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.

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: roll · mug · racket · fine · prune · bear · file · ruler

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. file — a line of people
  5. fine — high quality
  6. mug — to rob
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. roll — a list
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bear — the animal
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bear — the animal
  14. fine — all right
  15. mug — a cup
  16. roll — a cake
  17. file — a tool
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. mug — a face
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. file — a document
  24. fine — a penalty

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