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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 120 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. file — a document
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. prune — to trim
  7. suit — clothes
  8. content — happy
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. stem — to come from
  13. rush — hurry
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. season — in sport
  16. file — a line of people
  17. prune — to trim
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. file — a tool
  20. season — of the year
  21. content — the amount
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. suit — in cards
  24. suit — to fit

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