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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: temple · coach · patient · fine · stand · spell · mark · nail

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. spell — letters
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mark — a trace
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. spell — magic
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. mark — a grade
  16. stand — to bear
  17. fine — all right
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. spell — a short time
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. fine — a penalty

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