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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: spell · mate · can · bound · bark · patient · kid · suit

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bark — to shout
  7. bound — tied together
  8. can — a tin
  9. kid — to tease
  10. spell — a short time
  11. suit — clothes
  12. mate — to breed
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. can — to be able to
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bound — obliged
  18. spell — letters
  19. kid — child
  20. can — a tin
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. mate — a partner
  23. spell — magic
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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