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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.

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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: temple · saw · wake · bound · bass · ball · bay · content

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. bound — obliged
  3. wake — a trail
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. content — the amount
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bound — certain
  10. ball — a great time
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. bass — the fish
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bass — low music
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. content — happy

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