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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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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: ruler · band · race · arm · pass · pit · bank · coach

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. pit — a hole
  5. band — a ring
  6. race — humankind
  7. bank — for money
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. race — a contest
  10. bank — of a river
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. bank — for money
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. pit — in a race
  16. race — the arms race
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. band — a music group
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pass — a permit
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. band — a rubber band

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