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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.

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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: rush · prune · snap · trunk · stand · cabinet · stem · calf

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. prune — to trim
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. prune — to trim
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. stem — to come from
  20. rush — hurry
  21. snap — to click
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. stand — to bear

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