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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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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: racket · stick · jam · lean · prune · vault · lash · last

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. last — to go on
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. prune — to trim
  7. lean — thin
  8. prune — to trim
  9. last — final
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. vault — a safe
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. last — finally
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. jam — a tight spot

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