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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: bowl · key · ground · bound · plane · season · dip · mug

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. key — for a lock
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. plane — a tool
  6. key — in music
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. key — the most important part
  9. mug — to rob
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. mug — a face
  13. season — of the year
  14. ground — a position
  15. ground — crushed
  16. bound — obliged
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. bound — certain
  19. dip — to sink
  20. bound — tied together
  21. ground — the earth
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. mug — a cup

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