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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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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: cap · can · last · date · prune · rush · safe · chip

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. chip — to eat
  5. cap — of ice
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. date — the fruit
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. last — finally
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. can — a tin
  16. cap — a hat
  17. prune — to trim
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. last — to go on
  20. prune — to trim
  21. last — final
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. cap — a lid
  24. chip — for betting

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