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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: last · rush · foot · ruler · bank · wound · bear · patient

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. wound — an injury
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. last — to go on
  8. foot — a measure
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. bank — for money
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bank — for money
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bear — the animal
  19. last — finally
  20. wound — an injury
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. last — final

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