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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. land — ground
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. ground — crushed
  5. chair — a leader
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. bound — obliged
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. ground — a position
  10. firm — a company
  11. track — to keep track
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. track — a path
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. track — a song
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — tied together
  18. land — to come down
  19. firm — decided
  20. bound — certain
  21. ground — the earth
  22. land — a country
  23. plane — a tool
  24. firm — steady

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