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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: mark · bound · game · ball · pitcher · key · stick · board

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bound — tied together
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. key — the most important part
  6. game — wild animals
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. ball — a great time
  9. key — for a lock
  10. key — in music
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. bound — certain
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bound — obliged
  21. board — to get on
  22. board — a committee
  23. mark — a grade
  24. game — a match

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