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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. cap — of ice
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. can — a tin
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. date — the fruit
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. prune — to trim
  10. cap — a lid
  11. plane — a tool
  12. cap — a hat
  13. suit — clothes
  14. can — a tin
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. bank — of a river
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bank — for money
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. suit — in cards
  22. suit — to fit
  23. prune — to trim
  24. lash — an eyelash

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