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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: pound · rush · plane · bulb · toast · present · straw · fine

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. present — the time now
  3. bulb — for light
  4. fine — all right
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. present — there
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. fine — high quality
  13. rush — hurry
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. plane — a tool
  16. toast — bread
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. present — a gift
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pound — a weight
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. toast — the most admired

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