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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 116 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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. can — a tin
  3. season — of the year
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pop — soda
  6. firm — decided
  7. face — to confront
  8. season — in sport
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. pop — to visit
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. can — a tin
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. pop — music
  16. face — to point toward
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. face — part of the head
  19. can — to be able to
  20. firm — steady
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. firm — a company
  23. prune — to trim
  24. prune — to trim

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