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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
468
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 · jam · perch · fine · cue · prune · trunk · file

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. content — the amount
  3. file — a line of people
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cue — for pool
  6. fine — all right
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. cue — a hint
  9. fine — high quality
  10. file — a tool
  11. content — happy
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. prune — to trim
  17. perch — the fish
  18. cue — a signal
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. jam — a tight spot
  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