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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: trunk · prune · perch · present · current · saw · chip · foot

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. foot — a measure
  3. saw — the tool
  4. current — electric
  5. chip — to eat
  6. present — the time now
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. present — a gift
  10. perch — the fish
  11. current — of water
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. current — happening now
  15. chip — for betting
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. present — there
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. prune — to trim
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. prune — to trim

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