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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: bound · rush · bass · wave · bore · cabinet · wound · date

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. date — the fruit
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bore — to drill
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bass — low music
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bound — obliged
  15. rush — hurry
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. bound — certain
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. bass — the fish
  24. cabinet — ministers

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