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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: foot · date · object · prune · can · pit · face · bulb

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  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. object — a thing
  2. pit — in a race
  3. face — part of the head
  4. face — to confront
  5. object — to protest
  6. can — a tin
  7. prune — to trim
  8. date — the fruit
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bulb — for light
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. face — to point toward
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. pit — a hole
  19. bulb — for light
  20. object — an aim
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. can — a tin
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  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