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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: key · club · track · prune · rush · spell · ruler · cap

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. club — for dancing
  3. key — in music
  4. prune — to trim
  5. spell — letters
  6. cap — a hat
  7. club — for golf
  8. club — a group
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. cap — a lid
  11. track — a song
  12. track — a path
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. spell — magic
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. track — to keep track
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. cap — of ice
  19. rush — hurry
  20. key — the most important part
  21. spell — a short time
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. prune — to trim
  24. key — for a lock

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