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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: field · temple · object · bound · bore · deal · mug · ball

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. mug — a cup
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. deal — to handle
  5. object — a thing
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. bound — certain
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. bound — tied together
  10. field — a subject
  11. object — an aim
  12. field — for sport
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. object — to protest
  17. bore — to drill
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bore — to tire
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bound — obliged
  22. field — farmland
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. mug — a face

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