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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: toast · rush · cabinet · rock · jam · bound · fine · cell

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. fine — high quality
  3. cell — a phone
  4. fine — all right
  5. cell — in biology
  6. rush — hurry
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. toast — bread
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bound — certain
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — obliged
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bound — tied together
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rush — to hurry

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