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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
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: jam · suit · temple · fan · prune · capital · stick · leaves

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  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. capital — a big letter
  2. suit — clothes
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. capital — a city
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. capital — money
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. suit — in cards
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. suit — to fit
  23. fan — a supporter
  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