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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: plane · can · mug · file · net · content · bound · shower

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. bound — tied together
  3. file — a document
  4. net — in sport
  5. shower — to wash
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mug — a face
  9. can — a tin
  10. mug — to rob
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. mug — a cup
  13. net — after costs
  14. file — a line of people
  15. content — the amount
  16. file — a tool
  17. net — for catching
  18. plane — a tool
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. can — to be able to
  21. content — happy
  22. shower — rain
  23. can — a tin
  24. bound — certain

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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