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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 116 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: cap · mate · can · plane · fan · bound · leaves · chair

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. plane — a tool
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. bound — tied together
  5. mate — a friend
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. cap — a lid
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bound — certain
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. cap — a hat
  14. can — to be able to
  15. cap — of ice
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. mate — to breed
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. can — a tin
  20. bound — obliged
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. can — a tin
  23. chair — a leader
  24. leaves — lets stay

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