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

Word bank: key · fine · vault · fan · mark · bound

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — tied together
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bound — certain
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. vault — a safe
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — a grade
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fine — all right

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