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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: prune · trunk · key · net · pass · deal · mug · bound

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. mug — a cup
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mug — to rob
  9. prune — to trim
  10. net — after costs
  11. key — in music
  12. net — in sport
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. key — for a lock
  15. prune — to trim
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bound — certain
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bound — tied together
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. net — for catching
  23. deal — to handle
  24. mug — a face

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