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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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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. present — the time now
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. net — after costs
  5. present — there
  6. bound — tied together
  7. plane — a tool
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. bound — obliged
  11. present — a gift
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. toast — bread
  14. net — in sport
  15. net — for catching
  16. tube — the underground
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. tube — a container
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bound — certain

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