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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: pass · rash · game · bound · tear · cue · can · bark

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. game — a match
  3. tear — to rip
  4. game — wild animals
  5. tear — from crying
  6. cue — a signal
  7. rash — hasty
  8. bark — to shout
  9. bound — tied together
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. rash — a series
  14. cue — a hint
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. tear — from crying
  20. cue — for pool
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. pass — to succeed

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