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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: ball · fine · bound · mug · band · prune · season · mate

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. ball — a great time
  3. mate — a friend
  4. bound — tied together
  5. mug — to rob
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. band — a music group
  9. season — in sport
  10. ball — a dance
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bound — certain
  13. mug — a cup
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bound — obliged
  16. mug — a face
  17. fine — high quality
  18. mate — a partner
  19. band — a ring
  20. mate — to breed
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. season — of the year
  23. fine — all right
  24. season — to add flavour

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