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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: bulb · bank · capital · bay · pass · rush · mug · bound

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. mug — a face
  3. bound — obliged
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bank — for money
  9. bulb — for light
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bound — certain
  14. capital — a big letter
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. mug — to rob
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mug — a cup
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. bank — for money
  21. capital — money
  22. capital — a city
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bank — of a river

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