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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: bore · pit · season · suit · charge · pound · rush · bound

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bore — to drill
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. charge — in control
  8. bound — certain
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. suit — in cards
  11. bound — obliged
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. season — of the year
  15. season — in sport
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. bound — tied together
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bore — to tire
  20. pit — a hole
  21. charge — electricity
  22. suit — clothes
  23. charge — a price
  24. pound — a weight

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