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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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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: content · prune · date · bear · rock · jam · board · suit

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bear — the animal
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. rock — music
  6. suit — in cards
  7. suit — clothes
  8. date — the fruit
  9. board — a committee
  10. content — happy
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. content — the amount
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. suit — to fit
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. rock — a stone
  19. bear — the animal
  20. prune — to trim
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. board — to get on

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