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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: date · bulb · content · rush · rock · bound · bore · patient

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bound — certain
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bore — to drill
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. rock — music
  9. bulb — for light
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rock — a stone
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bound — obliged
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. content — happy
  19. content — the amount
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. bore — to tire

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