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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: bound · key · mouse · season · mug · field · lash · bay

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. bound — obliged
  3. season — in sport
  4. key — in music
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. key — the most important part
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. field — a subject
  9. mug — to rob
  10. field — farmland
  11. field — for sport
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — a face
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — tied together
  23. season — of the year
  24. lash — to lash out

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