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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. stock — shares
  3. suit — clothes
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. prune — to trim
  10. suit — to fit
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. roll — a cake
  13. toast — bread
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. suit — in cards
  19. prune — to trim
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. date — the fruit
  22. stock — goods
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. rush — a thrill

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