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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. bulb — for light
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. fine — all right
  7. cap — of ice
  8. season — of the year
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fine — high quality
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. prune — to trim
  14. prune — to trim
  15. cap — a hat
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pop — music
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. pop — soda
  20. wax — to grow
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. season — in sport
  24. cap — a lid

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