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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: staff · stick · dip · prune · scale · track · coach · suit

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. prune — to trim
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. prune — to trim
  6. track — a song
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. staff — employees
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. staff — employees
  11. scale — in music
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. dip — to sink
  17. suit — clothes
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. track — to keep track
  21. staff — a stick
  22. suit — to fit
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. scale — size or range

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