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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. date — the fruit
  6. can — a tin
  7. lie — to recline
  8. sharp — clever
  9. last — finally
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. rush — hurry
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. last — final
  23. last — to go on
  24. bowl — a football final

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