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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: racket · current · object · mate · pitcher · prune · ruler · staff

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. prune — to trim
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. staff — employees
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. mate — a partner
  9. object — an aim
  10. current — happening now
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. prune — to trim
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. staff — employees
  17. object — a thing
  18. current — electric
  19. staff — a stick
  20. mate — to breed
  21. current — of water
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. object — to protest
  24. mate — a friend

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