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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. craft — boats
  7. date — the fruit
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. track — a song
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a trace
  12. can — a tin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. rash — a series
  19. mark — a grade
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. track — a path
  24. craft — a skill

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