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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. club — for golf
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — tied together
  6. rash — a series
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. ground — the earth
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. ground — a position
  13. rush — hurry
  14. fine — high quality
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — all right
  18. club — for dancing
  19. ground — crushed
  20. rash — hasty
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. bound — obliged
  23. club — a group
  24. pass — a permit

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