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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 · last · can · sharp · prune · bulb · cap · lash

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. prune — to trim
  3. cap — of ice
  4. last — to go on
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. sharp — clever
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. cap — a hat
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — all right
  15. last — final
  16. last — finally
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bulb — for light
  19. fine — high quality
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bulb — for light
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. cap — a lid
  24. can — to be able to

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