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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: date · bank · lie · roll · season · deal · prune · suit

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. date — the fruit
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. deal — to handle
  5. season — of the year
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. season — in sport
  10. bank — of a river
  11. suit — in cards
  12. prune — to trim
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. bank — for money
  15. lie — to recline
  16. roll — a cake
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. bank — for money
  19. roll — a list
  20. suit — clothes
  21. prune — to trim
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. suit — to fit
  24. lie — an untruth

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