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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — tied together
  3. hand — in cards
  4. plane — a tool
  5. track — a song
  6. bound — obliged
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. charge — in control
  10. club — for dancing
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the fish
  13. hand — help
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. club — a group
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. club — for golf
  19. charge — a price
  20. charge — electricity
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. track — a path
  24. leaves — of a tree

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