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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: deal · can · suit · capital · calf · hide · prune · date

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. can — to be able to
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. capital — a city
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. capital — money
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. suit — in cards
  11. can — a tin
  12. deal — to handle
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. date — the fruit
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. suit — to fit
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — clothes
  21. prune — to trim
  22. prune — to trim
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. capital — a big letter

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