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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. bound — obliged
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. file — a document
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. mug — a face
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. craft — boats
  13. file — a tool
  14. plane — a tool
  15. mug — to rob
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. stand — to bear
  19. craft — a skill
  20. bound — certain
  21. mug — a cup
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. bound — tied together

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