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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. deal — to handle
  4. pop — music
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. pop — to visit
  13. rush — hurry
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bear — the animal
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. pop — soda
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. deal — an agreement
  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