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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. can — a tin
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. tube — the underground
  5. tube — a container
  6. bound — certain
  7. file — a document
  8. plane — a tool
  9. file — a tool
  10. bound — obliged
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. wake — a trail
  13. can — to be able to
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. can — a tin
  16. file — a line of people
  17. firm — a company
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. firm — steady
  23. fine — all right
  24. firm — decided

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