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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: firm · rush · date · prune · key · bay · chip · mouse

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. date — the fruit
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. prune — to trim
  10. key — the most important part
  11. chip — to eat
  12. key — in music
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. chip — for betting
  16. firm — decided
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. firm — steady
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. key — for a lock
  22. firm — a company
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. prune — to trim

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