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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: bound · date · stick · net · leaves · jam · pop · toast

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. net — for catching
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. bound — tied together
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. net — after costs
  10. bound — obliged
  11. net — in sport
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. pop — soda
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bound — certain
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. toast — bread
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. date — the fruit
  23. pop — music
  24. pop — to visit

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