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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. suit — clothes
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bear — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. dip — to sink
  15. suit — in cards
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bear — the animal
  20. can — to be able to
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. can — a tin
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. dip — a sauce

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