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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bound — obliged
  4. mine — for digging
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — to rob
  11. plane — a tool
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. bound — tied together
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. file — a line of people
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. file — a tool
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. bound — certain
  22. file — a document
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. mug — a cup

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