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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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. spell — a short time
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. rock — a stone
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. fine — high quality
  8. date — the fruit
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rock — music
  11. fine — all right
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — magic
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. prune — to trim

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