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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: bowl · stand · bark · lash · present · prune · cabinet · sharp

  1. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. present — a gift
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. present — there
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. prune — to trim
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. present — the time now
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bark — to shout
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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