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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: stick · file · bound · stem · bass · wound · key · jam

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. key — the most important part
  3. file — a tool
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. file — a document
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. bound — tied together
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. file — a line of people
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bass — low music
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — the fish
  21. wound — an injury
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. wound — an injury
  24. stem — to come from

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