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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. staff — employees
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. staff — employees
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. suit — to fit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. present — the time now
  13. can — a tin
  14. deal — to handle
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. prune — to trim
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rush — hurry
  20. staff — a stick
  21. present — there
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. present — a gift
  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