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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 · suit · date · pass · trunk · rush · clip · rash

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. rash — a series
  3. clip — to cut
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. bound — certain
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. clip — a video
  8. date — the fruit
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bound — obliged
  12. rush — hurry
  13. suit — to fit
  14. bound — tied together
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. clip — for paper
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. rash — hasty
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. suit — in cards
  21. pass — a permit
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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