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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 · content · degree · bulb · sharp · perch · can · pass

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. can — a tin
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pass — a permit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. content — the amount
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bulb — for light
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. degree — from a university
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. sharp — clever
  15. prune — to trim
  16. degree — an amount
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. degree — temperature
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. perch — the fish
  23. can — a tin
  24. content — happy

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