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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: wind · mug · rush · prune · ball · suit · ruler · coach

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mug — to rob
  3. rush — hurry
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. ball — a great time
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. mug — a face
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. mug — a cup
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. suit — to fit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. suit — in cards
  18. prune — to trim
  19. ball — a dance
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. suit — clothes
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. wind — moving air
  24. wind — moving air

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