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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. capital — money
  4. branch — a division
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. pit — a hole
  7. capital — a city
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. lie — to recline
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pit — in a race
  13. net — after costs
  14. saw — the tool
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. net — for catching
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. net — in sport
  24. capital — a big letter

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