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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
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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: ground · plane · rush · pitcher · bear · bound · mine · straw

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bound — obliged
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bound — certain
  12. mine — for digging
  13. ground — a position
  14. ground — crushed
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. rush — hurry
  22. ground — the earth
  23. bear — the animal
  24. straw — a straw man

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