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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rush — hurry
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. spell — letters
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pound — a weight
  12. bound — certain
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. track — to keep track
  16. plane — a tool
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. spell — a short time
  19. bound — obliged
  20. track — a path
  21. track — a song
  22. pass — a permit
  23. spell — magic
  24. rush — to hurry

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