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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: wake · ball · land · key · mug · safe · pound · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. key — in music
  5. land — ground
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. ball — a great time
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. fine — all right
  11. land — to come down
  12. key — for a lock
  13. mug — a face
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. mug — a cup
  17. pound — a weight
  18. key — the most important part
  19. mug — to rob
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. wake — a trail
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. land — a country
  24. fine — high quality

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