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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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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: prune · lash · pass · mouse · vault · mark · charge · rash

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. rash — hasty
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. charge — a price
  8. mark — a trace
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rash — a series
  12. vault — a safe
  13. prune — to trim
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. charge — in control
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. charge — electricity
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pass — a permit

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