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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: fine · saw · temple · suit · prune · can · pop · dip

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. can — to be able to
  4. dip — to sink
  5. pop — music
  6. can — a tin
  7. pop — soda
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. suit — in cards
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. prune — to trim
  13. saw — the tool
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. suit — to fit
  16. fine — high quality
  17. suit — clothes
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. can — a tin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — all right

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