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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: bound · bank · spell · bore · bear · foot · key · mug

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. key — the most important part
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bank — for money
  6. bear — the animal
  7. spell — magic
  8. bore — to tire
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bound — certain
  14. key — in music
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bound — obliged
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. spell — letters
  21. mug — a cup
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. foot — part of the body

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