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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
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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: mug · tear · bulb · bank · craft · lean · mark · prune

  1. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. mug — to rob
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bank — for money
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bank — for money
  10. lean — thin
  11. craft — boats
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bulb — for light
  14. mark — a grade
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mug — a cup
  17. craft — a skill
  18. tear — from crying
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bank — of a river
  21. lean — to bend
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. mug — a face
  24. tear — to rip

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