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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 just a dried plum.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. can — a tin
  3. cue — a hint
  4. cap — a hat
  5. net — after costs
  6. cap — a lid
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. press — newspapers
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. can — to be able to
  11. prune — to trim
  12. cap — of ice
  13. press — to push
  14. net — for catching
  15. press — a publisher
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a signal
  19. season — in sport
  20. can — a tin
  21. net — in sport
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. season — of the year
  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