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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.

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: mug · suit · file · prune · bowl · wake · rule · leaves

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wake — a trail
  4. prune — to trim
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. rule — government
  7. file — a document
  8. suit — in cards
  9. file — a line of people
  10. mug — a face
  11. suit — clothes
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. rule — a law
  15. mug — to rob
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. file — a tool
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. prune — to trim
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. mug — a cup
  24. rule — to rule out

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