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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. tube — the underground
  3. charge — a price
  4. saw — the tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. bound — certain
  10. charge — electricity
  11. track — a song
  12. track — to keep track
  13. charge — in control
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bound — obliged
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. tube — a container
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. track — a path
  21. plane — a tool
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. bound — tied together

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