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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.

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: pound · tube · season · hide · snap · ball · bound · deal

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — in sport
  7. ball — a great time
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. pound — a weight
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. season — of the year
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. tube — a container
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — tied together
  20. deal — to handle
  21. snap — to click
  22. ball — a dance
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. tube — the underground

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