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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: pit · board · rock · can · nail · lie · kid · prune

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. pit — a hole
  3. kid — child
  4. board — a committee
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. prune — to trim
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. board — to get on
  12. can — a tin
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. can — to be able to
  19. pit — in a race
  20. kid — to tease
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. prune — to trim
  24. can — a tin

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