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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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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: can · pound · trunk · bound · pitcher · tube · last · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. tube — the underground
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. can — a tin
  6. bound — tied together
  7. last — final
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. last — to go on
  10. can — a tin
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. bound — obliged
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. plane — a tool
  18. last — finally
  19. tube — a container
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bound — certain
  23. pound — a weight
  24. plane — an aircraft

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