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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. sharp — clever
  3. plane — a tool
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. pass — a permit
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. suit — in cards
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. tube — the underground
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bound — tied together
  13. tube — a container
  14. current — of water
  15. current — electric
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bound — obliged
  20. suit — clothes
  21. suit — to fit
  22. current — happening now
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. pass — to spend time

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