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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: suit · scale · bound · ground · sharp · cabinet · rest · date

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rest — a break
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. ground — crushed
  7. bound — obliged
  8. rest — what's left
  9. suit — in cards
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. ground — the earth
  12. rest — what's left
  13. ground — a position
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. sharp — clever
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. scale — in music
  18. scale — size or range
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bound — tied together
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. date — the fruit
  24. suit — to fit

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