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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: file · prune · ruler · perch · date · can · arm · face

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. file — a line of people
  9. prune — to trim
  10. date — the fruit
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. file — a document
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. face — to point toward
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. can — a tin
  21. face — part of the head
  22. face — to confront
  23. file — a tool
  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