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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: snap · bass · dip · ball · current · season · bound · temple

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. bound — obliged
  3. season — of the year
  4. current — happening now
  5. ball — a great time
  6. bass — the fish
  7. snap — to click
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. current — of water
  10. current — electric
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. bound — certain
  13. bass — low music
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. bound — tied together
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. season — in sport
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. dip — to sink
  24. ball — a dance

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