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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
468
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: capital · jam · file · swing · stand · chip · bound · plane

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. file — a document
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — certain
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — a tool
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — to bear
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. capital — a city
  13. file — a tool
  14. swing — in golf
  15. bound — obliged
  16. file — a line of people
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. swing — to play on
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. capital — money
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. chip — for betting
  23. swing — music
  24. chip — to eat

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