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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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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: cabinet · pass · bank · bound · rest · wake · march · sharp

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bound — obliged
  4. march — the month
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rest — a break
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. rest — what's left
  13. pass — a permit
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. march — music
  16. wake — a trail
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. sharp — clever
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bound — certain
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. march — the month

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