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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: file · cue · bay · fall · pop · plane · bound · branch

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bound — tied together
  5. fall — to drop
  6. pop — soda
  7. bound — certain
  8. fall — to drop
  9. file — a tool
  10. pop — to visit
  11. bound — obliged
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. branch — a division
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. plane — a tool
  16. fall — the season
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. cue — a signal
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. file — a document
  21. pop — music
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. cue — for pool
  24. cue — a hint

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