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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: bound · patient · ruler · stand · net · bank · last · cue

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. net — in sport
  3. bound — certain
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bank — for money
  7. net — for catching
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. last — final
  11. last — finally
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bound — tied together
  14. cue — a hint
  15. net — after costs
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. cue — a signal
  18. last — to go on
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bound — obliged
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. stand — to bear
  23. bank — for money
  24. ruler — for measuring

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