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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: rush · temple · pit · object · snap · leaves · suit · prune

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. prune — to trim
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. object — an aim
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. rush — hurry
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pit — in a race
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. object — to protest
  13. suit — in cards
  14. object — a thing
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. prune — to trim
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. pit — a hole
  23. suit — clothes
  24. snap — to click

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