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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. bound — certain
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. season — of the year
  5. row — to paddle
  6. row — a line
  7. bank — for money
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. bound — tied together
  10. key — the most important part
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. key — in music
  13. pass — a permit
  14. stand — to bear
  15. deal — to handle
  16. season — in sport
  17. key — for a lock
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bank — for money
  20. bound — obliged
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bank — of a river
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. deal — an agreement

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