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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: pit · trunk · date · fine · ruler · leaves · bound · rest

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. bound — tied together
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. fine — all right
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. pit — a hole
  12. bound — certain
  13. bound — obliged
  14. rest — what's left
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. fine — high quality
  19. rest — a break
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. rest — what's left
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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