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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. bound — certain
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. band — a music group
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bound — obliged
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. band — a ring
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bank — for money
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bank — for money
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bank — of a river

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