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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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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 · roll · foot · toast · bound · ball · rock

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bound — obliged
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. roll — a list
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. rock — a stone
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. key — the most important part
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. toast — bread
  13. key — for a lock
  14. rock — music
  15. ball — a great time
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bound — tied together
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bound — certain
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. foot — a measure
  24. key — in music

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