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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 116 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 · swing · ball · bass · track · fork · plane · firm

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. bound — certain
  3. bass — the fish
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. swing — to play on
  8. track — a path
  9. bound — tied together
  10. ball — a great time
  11. firm — a company
  12. firm — steady
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. firm — decided
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. plane — a tool
  17. track — a song
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bass — low music
  20. track — to keep track
  21. swing — music
  22. swing — in golf
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bass — the instrument

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