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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: rash · hide · date · suit · pitch · face · deal · prune

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. pitch — completely
  3. date — the fruit
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. face — part of the head
  7. rash — hasty
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. deal — to handle
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. prune — to trim
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. suit — to fit
  17. prune — to trim
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. suit — in cards
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. face — to point toward
  23. suit — clothes
  24. face — to confront

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