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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. pound — a weight
  3. bound — tied together
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. bear — the animal
  8. board — a committee
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bark — to shout
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bound — obliged
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bound — certain
  17. board — to get on
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. rush — hurry
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bark — 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