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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.

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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: bass · dip · season · bound · file · suit · cap · key

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. season — in sport
  4. key — the most important part
  5. file — a line of people
  6. key — for a lock
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. cap — a lid
  9. file — a document
  10. dip — to sink
  11. cap — a hat
  12. season — of the year
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. cap — of ice
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bass — low music
  20. bound — certain
  21. bound — tied together
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — clothes
  24. file — a tool

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