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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 · swing · cap · hand · pass · season · pit · rash

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pit — in a race
  3. swing — in golf
  4. season — in sport
  5. rash — a series
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bound — certain
  9. cap — a hat
  10. bound — obliged
  11. hand — help
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. bound — tied together
  14. hand — in cards
  15. pass — a permit
  16. swing — to play on
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. season — of the year
  19. rash — hasty
  20. cap — of ice
  21. pit — a hole
  22. swing — music
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. cap — a lid

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