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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: calf · bound · toast · cabinet · season · pass

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bound — obliged
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. season — of the year
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bound — tied together
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. toast — bread
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. season — in sport
  18. bound — certain

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