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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 120 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: hand · bank · bound · patient · rash · key · rule · fine

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bound — obliged
  5. hand — in cards
  6. key — in music
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — hasty
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rule — government
  12. bound — certain
  13. fine — all right
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. rule — a law
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — for a lock
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. hand — help
  21. bank — for money
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bank — for money
  24. fine — high quality

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