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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.

Make a worksheet

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: prune · rock · plane · object · scale · wave · toast · rash

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. prune — to trim
  3. plane — a tool
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. scale — size or range
  6. object — to protest
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. toast — bread
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rash — hasty
  14. scale — in music
  15. object — an aim
  16. rash — a series
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. rock — music
  20. prune — to trim
  21. object — a thing
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. rock — a stone
  24. toast — the most admired

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