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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: lie · date · prune · face · mouse · suit · pitch · squash

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. prune — to trim
  3. squash — to crush
  4. suit — clothes
  5. face — to confront
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. face — part of the head
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. suit — in cards
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. squash — the sport
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. pitch — completely
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. suit — to fit
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. date — the fruit
  20. lie — to recline
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. face — to point toward

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