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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: ruler · mark · prune · can · saw · lean · cabinet · suit

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — thin
  3. suit — to fit
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — a grade
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. saw — the tool
  10. suit — clothes
  11. mark — a trace
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. prune — to trim
  14. suit — in cards
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. can — a tin
  18. lean — to bend
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. can — to be able to
  21. saw — the tool
  22. prune — to trim
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mark — to pay attention

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