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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ball — a great time
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. field — for sport
  6. roll — a cake
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. key — the most important part
  9. field — farmland
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. key — for a lock
  13. roll — a list
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. key — in music
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. field — a subject
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — certain
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. ball — a dance
  24. mouse — the animal

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