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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: firm · racket · jam · fan · plane · mug · wind · bound

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. bound — tied together
  7. firm — steady
  8. bound — obliged
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bound — certain
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. mug — a cup
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mug — to rob
  18. firm — decided
  19. wind — moving air
  20. wind — moving air
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. mug — a face
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. firm — a company

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