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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: rock · suit · foot · bound · plane · game · chair · pass

  1. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. suit — clothes
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. rock — a stone
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. pass — a permit
  7. game — a match
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. bound — tied together
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. game — wild animals
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. plane — a tool
  15. foot — a measure
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — music
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. suit — in cards
  22. suit — to fit
  23. chair — a leader
  24. bound — certain

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