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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 120 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: pass · bound · plane · current · branch · mate · chair · bay

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. mate — a friend
  7. chair — a leader
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. mate — to breed
  10. current — happening now
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — obliged
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. mate — a partner
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. branch — a division
  21. bound — certain
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. branch — of a tree

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