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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: lean · ruler · file · stand · prune · jam · fork · mug

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. mug — a cup
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. stand — to bear
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mug — to rob
  11. file — a line of people
  12. lean — to bend
  13. file — a document
  14. mug — a face
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. file — a tool
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. prune — to trim
  22. lean — thin
  23. prune — to trim
  24. fork — in a road

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