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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 · key · field · deal · plane · can · trunk · nail

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. field — farmland
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. key — in music
  7. field — for sport
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. key — the most important part
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bound — certain
  14. plane — a tool
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. bound — tied together
  17. deal — to handle
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bound — obliged
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. can — to be able to
  24. nail — on a finger

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