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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. date — the fruit
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. can — a tin
  10. rock — music
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. can — to be able to
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. rock — a stone
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. can — a tin

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