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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 · bank · pass · tear · rush · face · hide · nail

  1. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. bank — of a river
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. face — part of the head
  8. tear — to rip
  9. pass — a permit
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rush — hurry
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bank — for money
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. face — to point toward
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bound — certain
  18. face — to confront
  19. bound — obliged
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. tear — from crying
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bank — for money
  24. nail — for a hammer

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