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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: prune · rock · mouse · hide · rush · patient · can · wax

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rush — hurry
  3. wax — to grow
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — to be able to
  14. prune — to trim
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. can — a tin
  17. rock — music
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. prune — to trim
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. can — a tin
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. mouse — for a computer

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