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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
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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: bound · saw · patient · trunk · fan · drill · spell · suit

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. spell — letters
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. spell — a short time
  5. suit — in cards
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. saw — the tool
  8. drill — army training
  9. suit — clothes
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. saw — the tool
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. drill — the tool
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — certain
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. spell — magic
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. bound — obliged
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. suit — to fit

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