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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 120 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: cap · board · rush · mug · ground · wax · prune · lie

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. mug — a face
  3. ground — the earth
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. cap — a lid
  7. cap — of ice
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mug — a cup
  11. ground — a position
  12. board — a committee
  13. wax — to grow
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. cap — a hat
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. board — to get on
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. mug — to rob
  21. ground — crushed
  22. prune — to trim
  23. rush — hurry
  24. wax — in the ear

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