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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: fan · rash · band · bore · key · suit · patient · ruler

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bore — to tire
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. suit — in cards
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. band — a ring
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rash — a series
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. suit — to fit
  19. key — for a lock
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. band — a music group
  24. bore — to drill

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