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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. roll — a cake
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. row — to paddle
  6. fine — high quality
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. roll — a list
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. mark — a trace
  14. mark — a grade
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. fine — all right
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. row — a line
  22. toast — bread
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bowl — a dish

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