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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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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: racket · ruler · rock · ball · row · jam · coach · rush

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. rush — hurry
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. rock — a stone
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. row — a line
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rock — music
  19. ball — a great time
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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