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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. suit — to fit
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. prune — to trim
  9. suit — clothes
  10. can — to be able to
  11. content — the amount
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. suit — in cards
  16. can — a tin
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. content — happy
  20. prune — to trim
  21. can — a tin
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. pass — a permit

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