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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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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 · root · wind · pit · hide · prune · can · toast

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. root — of a word
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. toast — bread
  7. mug — to rob
  8. wind — moving air
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. prune — to trim
  12. prune — to trim
  13. root — of a plant
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. can — to be able to
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. pit — a hole
  18. root — the cause
  19. can — a tin
  20. mug — a face
  21. wind — moving air
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. mug — a cup
  24. can — a tin

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