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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. He was locked up in a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. can — a tin
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. can — a tin
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. prune — to trim
  7. ball — a great time
  8. cell — a phone
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. suit — clothes
  13. cell — in biology
  14. cell — in a prison
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. suit — in cards
  17. mark — a trace
  18. can — to be able to
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rock — a stone
  22. mark — a grade
  23. rock — music
  24. safe — out of danger

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