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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. date — the fruit
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. mark — a trace
  7. can — to be able to
  8. staff — employees
  9. suit — in cards
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mug — a face
  12. squash — the sport
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. can — a tin
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. suit — clothes
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. can — a tin
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mug — a cup
  22. squash — to crush
  23. staff — a stick
  24. staff — employees

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