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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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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: swing · arm · ruler · race · coach · root · pass · stand

  1. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  22. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. race — the arms race
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stand — to bear
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. pass — a permit
  10. root — the cause
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. swing — in golf
  13. swing — to play on
  14. root — of a plant
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. root — of a word
  21. swing — music
  22. race — a contest
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. ruler — for measuring

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