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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: plane · mark · bowl · wake · bass · bound · sharp · ball

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. ball — a dance
  3. mark — a grade
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bound — certain
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. bass — low music
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. plane — a tool
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. bass — the fish
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. mark — a trace
  21. wake — a trail
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. sharp — clever
  24. wake — before a funeral

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