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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: mark · spell · fan · prune · bear · perch · can · pitch

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. can — a tin
  4. prune — to trim
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. mark — a trace
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. spell — a short time
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. pitch — completely
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. spell — letters
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — the fish
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mark — a grade
  22. spell — magic
  23. bear — the animal
  24. fan — a supporter

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