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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: mine · hide · prune · leaves · lash · charge · bore · rush

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bore — to drill
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. prune — to trim
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. bore — to tire
  20. charge — electricity
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. charge — a price
  23. prune — to trim
  24. charge — in control

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