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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: safe · net · roll · prune · present · can · charge · dip

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. present — there
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — to trim
  6. charge — electricity
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. can — a tin
  9. charge — in control
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. present — the time now
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. can — to be able to
  15. net — in sport
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. roll — a cake
  18. net — for catching
  19. roll — a list
  20. present — a gift
  21. can — a tin
  22. net — after costs
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. charge — a price

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