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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: nail · mine · rush · arm · coach · mate · spring · mug

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. mate — to breed
  7. spring — the season
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mate — a friend
  15. spring — of water
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — a cup
  18. rush — hurry
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. mate — a partner

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