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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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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: prune · ruler · rest · fan · deal · fork · bass · temple

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. rest — what's left
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. fork — in a road
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bass — the fish
  12. prune — to trim
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. deal — to handle
  21. rest — a break
  22. bass — low music
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. fork — a garden tool

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