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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: rule · bound · date · track · key · pitch · plane · jam

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. track — a song
  6. bound — certain
  7. plane — a tool
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. rule — government
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. bound — obliged
  13. date — the fruit
  14. rule — a law
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. key — in music
  17. track — a path
  18. pitch — completely
  19. track — to keep track
  20. key — the most important part
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. key — for a lock
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. bound — tied together

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