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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. prune — to trim
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. fine — high quality
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. present — the time now
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. date — the fruit
  12. present — there
  13. present — a gift
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. can — to be able to
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. can — a tin
  20. fine — all right
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. prune — to trim
  24. leaves — of a tree

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