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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 116 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: pass · lie · content · fine · season · lash · spring · bound

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. content — happy
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. lie — to recline
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. season — in sport
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. spring — a coil
  13. content — the amount
  14. spring — of water
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. fine — high quality
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. season — of the year
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bound — obliged
  21. spring — the season
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. fine — all right

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