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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
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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: prune · mark · pop · craft · firm · pit · mate · ball

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. ball — a great time
  3. pop — to visit
  4. pop — soda
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mate — to breed
  7. prune — to trim
  8. mate — a partner
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. firm — decided
  11. pop — music
  12. mark — a grade
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. firm — steady
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mate — a friend
  18. pit — a hole
  19. firm — a company
  20. prune — to trim
  21. pit — in a race
  22. craft — a skill
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. craft — boats

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