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

Word bank: kick · fork · cap · can · bay · prune · mark · deal

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. kick — in football
  3. fork — in a road
  4. cap — a hat
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. prune — to trim
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. cap — of ice
  10. cap — a lid
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mark — a grade
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. mark — a trace
  19. deal — to handle
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. can — to be able to
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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