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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.

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 · chair · game · bear · suit · club · cabinet · fine

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. prune — to trim
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. chair — a leader
  6. game — a match
  7. suit — clothes
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. suit — to fit
  10. club — a group
  11. fine — all right
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. club — for dancing
  15. club — for golf
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. game — wild animals
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. bear — the animal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — high quality
  24. chair — a professorship

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