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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: patient · ball · drill · cabinet · current · spell · foot · pass

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. spell — letters
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. spell — a short time
  11. drill — a practice
  12. current — happening now
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. spell — magic
  16. ball — a dance
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. current — of water
  19. drill — the tool
  20. pass — a permit
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. ball — a great time
  23. foot — a measure
  24. current — electric

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