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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. plane — a tool
  3. chip — for betting
  4. file — a document
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. can — a tin
  10. file — a line of people
  11. file — a tool
  12. prune — to trim
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. last — final
  15. last — to go on
  16. chip — to eat
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. prune — to trim
  19. last — finally
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. can — to be able to
  22. date — the fruit
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. date — on the calendar

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