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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: mug · key · suit · ball · bound · lean · track · foot

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. mug — to rob
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a dance
  5. mug — a cup
  6. track — a song
  7. key — the most important part
  8. track — a path
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — obliged
  12. suit — to fit
  13. mug — a face
  14. lean — thin
  15. suit — clothes
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. suit — in cards
  18. track — to keep track
  19. lean — to bend
  20. key — in music
  21. ball — a great time
  22. foot — a measure
  23. bound — certain
  24. key — for a lock

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