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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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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: wave · bulb · deal · nail · pop · rash · fine · prune

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. rash — hasty
  5. pop — music
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rash — a series
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. fine — all right
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pop — soda
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. fine — high quality
  19. deal — to handle
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. bulb — for light
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. prune — to trim
  24. pop — to visit

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