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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 · trunk · chip · toast · bulb · date · dip · spell

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. spell — magic
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — to eat
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. spell — letters
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — all right
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. fine — high quality
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. bulb — for light
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. bulb — for light
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. dip — to sink
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. spell — a short time
  24. toast — bread

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