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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. squash — to crush
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bound — obliged
  8. can — a tin
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. can — to be able to
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. squash — the sport
  15. bound — tied together
  16. firm — a company
  17. bound — certain
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. plane — a tool
  21. firm — steady
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. can — a tin

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