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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 120 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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. scale — size or range
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bound — tied together
  5. mug — a face
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bulb — for light
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. scale — in music
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bound — obliged
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bound — certain
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. bank — for money
  19. wound — an injury
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bank — for money
  23. bulb — for light
  24. scale — for weighing

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