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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
468
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: bound · bowl · stand · patient · pass · bulb · lash · foot

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. stand — to bear
  8. bulb — for light
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. foot — a measure
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bound — certain
  20. bound — tied together
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. pass — to spend time

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