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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
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: band · lash · lean · rush · fork · prune · racket · cabinet

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. fork — in a road
  3. prune — to trim
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. rush — hurry
  11. lean — thin
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. band — a music group
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. band — a ring
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. prune — to trim

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