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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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. can — a tin
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. stock — shares
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pass — a permit
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. prune — to trim
  21. stock — goods
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mouse — for a computer

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