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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: ground · face · pass · game · roll · suit · bore · bound

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  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. roll — a cake
  2. bound — obliged
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. face — part of the head
  6. face — to point toward
  7. ground — the earth
  8. roll — a list
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. game — a match
  11. bore — to tire
  12. ground — crushed
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bound — tied together
  15. game — wild animals
  16. bound — certain
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. ground — a position
  20. bore — to drill
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. face — to confront
  23. suit — to fit
  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