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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. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. mug — a cup
  3. prune — to trim
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. prune — to trim
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. roll — a list
  11. rash — hasty
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. roll — a cake
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rash — a series
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mug — to rob
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. content — happy
  24. mug — a face

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