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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: drill · bound · wax · fan · chip · deal · lean · stand

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. drill — army training
  3. drill — the tool
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. chip — to eat
  11. stand — to bear
  12. lean — to bend
  13. wax — to grow
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. chip — for betting
  17. bound — obliged
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. bound — tied together
  22. deal — to handle
  23. lean — thin
  24. bound — certain

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