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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: ruler · toast · lie · mark · leaves · prune · mate · mine

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. mark — a trace
  3. lie — to recline
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. mark — a grade
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. mate — a friend
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. toast — bread
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. mine — for digging
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mate — to breed
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mate — a partner

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