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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: wave · bore · season · bound · mug · wound · cabinet · fine

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bore — to drill
  8. wound — an injury
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. mug — a cup
  11. bound — obliged
  12. fine — all right
  13. wound — an injury
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. season — in sport
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. fine — high quality
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. season — of the year
  22. bore — to tire
  23. bound — certain
  24. mug — a face

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