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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: prune · fine · date · jam · hide · drill · cap · lash

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. prune — to trim
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. cap — of ice
  8. date — the fruit
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. drill — the tool
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. fine — all right
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. drill — a practice
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. fine — high quality
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. drill — army training
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. cap — a hat
  24. cap — a lid

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