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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
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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: rash · bound · charge · pass · wound · capital · ruler · toast

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. charge — electricity
  3. charge — a price
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. wound — an injury
  6. capital — a city
  7. wound — an injury
  8. charge — in control
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. rash — hasty
  12. bound — certain
  13. rash — a series
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bound — tied together
  16. toast — bread
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. bound — obliged
  23. capital — money
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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