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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: kick · prune · jam · plane · bound · track · pound · hide

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  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. prune — the fruit
  2. kick — in football
  3. bound — certain
  4. prune — to trim
  5. track — a path
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. track — to keep track
  9. bound — tied together
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. pound — a weight
  12. bound — obliged
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. plane — a tool
  17. track — a song
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — an aircraft
  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