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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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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: content · coach · pass · mate · foot · arm · rush · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mate — to breed
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pass — a permit
  7. content — the amount
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. foot — a measure
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. content — happy
  17. mate — a partner
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. mate — a friend
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — a break

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