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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. band — a ring
  4. deal — to handle
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. plane — a tool
  11. branch — a division
  12. pitch — completely
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. stand — to bear
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. band — a music group
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. deal — a big deal

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