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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: land · fine · rock · object · suit · prune · mug · mate

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. land — a country
  3. suit — to fit
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. mate — to breed
  6. object — to protest
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mug — a face
  9. fine — all right
  10. land — to come down
  11. land — ground
  12. mate — a partner
  13. suit — in cards
  14. mate — a friend
  15. fine — high quality
  16. object — a thing
  17. suit — clothes
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. mug — a cup
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mug — to rob
  23. rock — music
  24. prune — to trim

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