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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: mug · bound · ruler · bass · jam · club · plane · saw

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. mug — to rob
  7. club — for dancing
  8. mug — a face
  9. saw — the tool
  10. club — a group
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bass — low music
  13. bound — certain
  14. saw — the tool
  15. club — for golf
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. mug — a cup
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. bound — tied together
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. plane — a tool

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