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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: snap · prune · fine · trunk · tube · mouse · net · foot

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. fine — all right
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. net — for catching
  6. prune — to trim
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. prune — to trim
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. foot — a measure
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. tube — the underground
  16. snap — to click
  17. fine — high quality
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. net — in sport
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. net — after costs
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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