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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.

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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: net · safe · shower · deal · bound · lie · prune · mouse

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. net — for catching
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. prune — to trim
  5. deal — to handle
  6. bound — certain
  7. shower — rain
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. prune — to trim
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. net — after costs
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. net — in sport
  16. bound — obliged
  17. shower — to wash
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. lie — to recline
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bound — tied together

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