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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: pound · coach · wax · ruler · rush · ball · roll · craft

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. pound — a weight
  7. craft — a skill
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. rush — hurry
  12. ball — a great time
  13. craft — boats
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. wax — to grow
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. roll — a list
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. ball — a dance
  24. roll — a cake

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