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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. mate — a partner
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. suit — in cards
  5. prune — to trim
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. suit — clothes
  8. mate — to breed
  9. dip — to sink
  10. chair — a leader
  11. suit — to fit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. lean — to bend
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. mate — a friend
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. sharp — clever
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. lean — thin

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