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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.

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: file · firm · mug · squash · perch · fan · bound · track

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. track — a song
  3. bound — tied together
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bound — certain
  7. mug — to rob
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. file — a tool
  10. firm — decided
  11. squash — the sport
  12. mug — a face
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. perch — the fish
  15. firm — steady
  16. mug — a cup
  17. squash — to crush
  18. track — a path
  19. file — a document
  20. track — to keep track
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. firm — a company
  24. file — a line of people

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