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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: ground · mug · board · mouse · bear · ball · fine · cap

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. ball — a dance
  3. mug — a face
  4. bear — the animal
  5. board — to get on
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ground — the earth
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. cap — of ice
  12. bear — the animal
  13. cap — a hat
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ground — crushed
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. board — a committee
  18. cap — a lid
  19. mug — to rob
  20. mug — a cup
  21. ground — a position
  22. ball — a great time
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — a penalty

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