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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. plane — a tool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. root — of a plant
  5. net — in sport
  6. board — a committee
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. root — the cause
  9. bound — tied together
  10. can — a tin
  11. root — of a word
  12. can — to be able to
  13. net — for catching
  14. wound — an injury
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. board — to get on
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. wound — an injury
  22. can — a tin
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. net — after costs

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