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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 · stick · pass · season · sharp · bank · track · rash

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bank — for money
  7. bound — obliged
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. season — in sport
  11. track — a path
  12. track — to keep track
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. bound — certain
  15. rash — hasty
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. bank — for money
  18. track — a song
  19. sharp — clever
  20. rash — a series
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bound — tied together
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. pass — a permit

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