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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 116 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: mate · stand · firm · lash · prune · pop · rush · bulb

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mate — a partner
  5. prune — to trim
  6. bulb — for light
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pop — soda
  9. firm — steady
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. firm — decided
  12. rush — hurry
  13. firm — a company
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. pop — music
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. pop — to visit
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bulb — for light
  21. prune — to trim
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — to breed

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