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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: face · bass · ball · key · bowl · object · mark · cabinet

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bass — low music
  3. ball — a dance
  4. face — to point toward
  5. key — the most important part
  6. key — in music
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. face — to confront
  9. key — for a lock
  10. object — a thing
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. object — an aim
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bass — the fish
  17. object — to protest
  18. face — part of the head
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. ball — a great time

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