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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: fan · patient · suit · bear · ground · court · ruler · ball

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bear — the animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bear — the animal
  8. suit — clothes
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. ground — a position
  13. court — of a king
  14. suit — to fit
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ball — a dance
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. court — of law
  19. court — for sport
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ground — crushed

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