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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 put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bound — obliged
  7. lean — thin
  8. bound — certain
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bulb — for light
  11. mate — to breed
  12. band — a music group
  13. mate — a friend
  14. band — a ring
  15. bulb — for light
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bound — tied together
  19. mate — a partner
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. lean — to bend

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