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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: track · file · current · prune · can · toast · firm · date

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. current — of water
  3. prune — to trim
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. can — to be able to
  6. track — a song
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. file — a line of people
  10. current — electric
  11. prune — to trim
  12. current — happening now
  13. track — to keep track
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — the fruit
  16. firm — a company
  17. firm — steady
  18. toast — bread
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. file — a tool
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. firm — decided
  24. file — a document

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