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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. court — of a king
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. ball — a great time
  6. mug — a cup
  7. lean — to bend
  8. mug — a face
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — certain
  12. mug — to rob
  13. lean — thin
  14. ball — a dance
  15. court — of law
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. court — for sport
  22. bound — obliged
  23. rush — hurry
  24. leaves — of a tree

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