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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bay · chip · bound · suit · date · band · saw · foot

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — certain
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. suit — to fit
  7. chip — to eat
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. date — the fruit
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. suit — in cards
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. band — a music group
  18. band — a ring
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. suit — clothes
  21. chip — for betting
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. bound — obliged
  24. foot — a measure

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