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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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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: kick · dip · prune · stem · coach · key · stand · club

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. club — for golf
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. key — in music
  10. key — the most important part
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. dip — to sink
  14. prune — to trim
  15. club — a group
  16. stem — to come from
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. key — for a lock
  19. prune — to trim
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. kick — in football
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. club — for dancing
  24. stand — for spectators

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