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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: mug · safe · wound · rest · key · bound · ball · cabinet

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bound — obliged
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bound — certain
  6. wound — an injury
  7. mug — a face
  8. mug — a cup
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rest — a break
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. ball — a great time
  14. key — the most important part
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. bound — tied together
  17. key — in music
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mug — to rob
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rest — what's left
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. wound — an injury
  24. rest — what's left

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