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

Word bank: prune · fall · dip · rush · bank · fine · date · mark

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. dip — to sink
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — a trace
  6. prune — to trim
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — hurry
  9. fine — high quality
  10. prune — to trim
  11. fall — to drop
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. fall — to drop
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. bank — for money
  19. fine — all right
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bank — for money
  22. bank — of a river
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. fall — the season

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