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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 116 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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — obliged
  4. mug — a face
  5. pop — music
  6. mug — a cup
  7. can — a tin
  8. mug — to rob
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pit — in a race
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. pop — soda
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. plane — a tool
  17. pit — a hole
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. present — a gift
  20. pop — to visit
  21. can — a tin
  22. bound — certain
  23. present — there
  24. plane — in geometry

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