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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.

Make a worksheet

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

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. fine — all right
  5. bound — certain
  6. mark — a grade
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. present — a gift
  10. perch — the fish
  11. key — in music
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. key — the most important part
  14. present — there
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mark — a trace
  19. key — for a lock
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. present — the time now
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bound — tied together
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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