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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: prune · jam · rock · safe · can · toast · dip · last

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. rock — music
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. can — a tin
  5. last — final
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. last — finally
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. prune — to trim
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — bread
  16. dip — to sink
  17. rock — a stone
  18. can — to be able to
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. prune — to trim
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. jam — to spread on 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