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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: suit · object · bass · rock · bark · mine · patient · bore

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. rock — a stone
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. object — a thing
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. bass — the fish
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. bore — to drill
  10. object — to protest
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — clothes
  13. object — an aim
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. suit — in cards
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — low music
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. rock — music
  24. mine — for digging

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