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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 120 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
468
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: key · fine · fan · spring · wound · cue · stick · bowl

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. spring — a coil
  4. key — in music
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. wound — an injury
  7. cue — for pool
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — all right
  12. cue — a hint
  13. spring — of water
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. cue — a signal
  17. spring — the season
  18. wound — an injury
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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