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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: rush · coach · prune · cue · rock · pop · snap · net

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. net — in sport
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. pop — soda
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — to trim
  8. snap — to click
  9. rock — a stone
  10. net — after costs
  11. cue — a hint
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. pop — music
  14. cue — for pool
  15. net — for catching
  16. rock — music
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pop — to visit
  20. rush — hurry
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. cue — a signal
  24. rock — to move gently

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