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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. club — a group
  4. track — to keep track
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. club — for golf
  7. club — for dancing
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mark — a trace
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. spring — a coil
  15. spring — of water
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. chair — a leader
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. bound — certain
  20. mark — a grade
  21. track — a song
  22. track — a path
  23. bound — tied together
  24. spring — the season

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