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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. dip — to sink
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. charge — a price
  6. spell — magic
  7. can — a tin
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. spell — a short time
  10. charge — in control
  11. spell — letters
  12. can — a tin
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. charge — electricity
  17. can — to be able to
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. prune — to trim
  21. pop — music
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. pop — to visit
  24. pop — soda

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