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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: can · ground · coach · ruler · prune · bear · saw · lie

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lie — to recline
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — a position
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. bear — the animal
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. can — a tin
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — to trim
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. ground — the earth
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bear — the animal
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — a trainer

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