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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. suit — clothes
  3. date — the fruit
  4. ground — the earth
  5. ground — a position
  6. suit — in cards
  7. ground — crushed
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. can — a tin
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. suit — to fit
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. foot — a measure
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. perch — the fish
  18. can — to be able to

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