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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: prune · mark · bowl · pass · mouse · lie · rush · bear

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. prune — to trim
  3. mark — a grade
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bear — the animal
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. mark — a trace
  14. lie — to recline
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. pass — a permit
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bear — the animal
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. mouse — for a computer

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