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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: bulb · pitcher · plane · pit · stand · mark · arm · bound

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. mark — a trace
  3. mark — a grade
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pit — a hole
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. bulb — for light
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bound — certain
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. pit — in a race
  20. bound — tied together
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. stand — to bear
  24. plane — a tool

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