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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 116 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: wound · suit · saw · nail · bore · stand · bulb · deal

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bore — to tire
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. suit — in cards
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. suit — clothes
  7. wound — an injury
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wound — an injury
  13. bulb — for light
  14. saw — the tool
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. stand — to bear
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bore — to drill
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. deal — to handle
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bulb — of a plant

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