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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.

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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: prune · mouse · fine · mate · lean · rock · track · calf

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. lean — thin
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. track — a song
  6. mate — to breed
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. prune — to trim
  9. fine — high quality
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. fine — all right
  12. lean — to bend
  13. mate — a partner
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. prune — to trim
  18. track — a path
  19. mate — a friend
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — music
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. track — to keep track

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