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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. date — the fruit
  3. fine — all right
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. fine — high quality
  6. can — to be able to
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. can — a tin
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bass — the fish
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. can — a tin
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. tube — a container
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bass — low music
  21. tube — the underground
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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