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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 116 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: bass · coach · bound · mouse · key · ball · fine · content

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. content — the amount
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bound — obliged
  7. content — happy
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bound — tied together
  14. fine — all right
  15. bound — certain
  16. key — in music
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. ball — a dance
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. fine — high quality
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bass — low music
  24. key — the most important part

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