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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
468
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: coach · fall · bear · bank · can · arm · wake · rash

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. rash — a series
  3. bank — for money
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. fall — to drop
  8. fall — the season
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. wake — a trail
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bank — of a river
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. bank — for money
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. fall — to drop
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bear — the animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. rash — hasty

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