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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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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: mate · branch · bound · shower · coach · rock · deal · bulb

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. branch — a division
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. shower — to wash
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mate — a partner
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bulb — for light
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. shower — rain
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bound — tied together
  17. rock — music
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. mate — a friend
  21. deal — to handle
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bound — certain
  24. deal — a big deal

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