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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 116 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: net · mug · season · track · present · bound · fine · rock

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bound — certain
  3. track — a path
  4. mug — to rob
  5. rock — music
  6. season — in sport
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. track — to keep track
  9. present — there
  10. mug — a cup
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. net — in sport
  13. mug — a face
  14. season — of the year
  15. bound — tied together
  16. net — after costs
  17. present — the time now
  18. fine — high quality
  19. rock — a stone
  20. track — a song
  21. net — for catching
  22. fine — all right
  23. bound — obliged
  24. present — a gift

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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