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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 120 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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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: bound · plane · net · temple · ball · drill · mark · bass

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. bass — low music
  3. net — for catching
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bound — certain
  6. mark — a trace
  7. drill — a practice
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bound — tied together
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bound — obliged
  14. drill — the tool
  15. bass — the fish
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. mark — a grade
  18. drill — army training
  19. ball — a dance
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. net — after costs
  24. net — in sport

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