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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
468
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: date · cabinet · bound · march · fine · pass · rule · toast

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — tied together
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. fine — high quality
  8. march — music
  9. fine — all right
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. pass — a permit
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bound — certain
  18. march — the month
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rule — a law
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. march — the month
  23. toast — bread
  24. date — on the calendar

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