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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: bound · rush · foot · chip · pass · season · toast · spring

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. spring — of water
  4. pass — a permit
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bound — certain
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. chip — to eat
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. season — in sport
  14. season — of the year
  15. toast — bread
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bound — obliged
  19. spring — the season
  20. spring — a coil
  21. foot — a measure
  22. bound — tied together
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — hurry

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