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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: cap · can · deal · coach · mine · rush · cell · bank

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. mine — for digging
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. can — a tin
  5. cap — of ice
  6. cap — a hat
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. cell — in biology
  11. deal — to handle
  12. rush — hurry
  13. bank — for money
  14. can — to be able to
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. cap — a lid
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. can — a tin
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. cell — a phone
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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