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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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468
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: leaves · bound · charge · calf · wind · fall · pass · net

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. fall — the season
  3. charge — in control
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bound — tied together
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pass — a permit
  9. bound — certain
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. charge — electricity
  12. wind — moving air
  13. wind — moving air
  14. fall — to drop
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. net — after costs
  17. net — in sport
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. charge — a price
  20. fall — to drop
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. net — for catching
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bound — obliged

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