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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: coach · squash · branch · lean · net · bay · trunk · ruler

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. branch — a division
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. lean — thin
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — for catching
  13. squash — the sport
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. lean — to bend
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. branch — of a tree

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