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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: lash · coach · ruler · wake · temple · mate · mug · stand

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. mate — a partner
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mate — a friend
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mate — to breed
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. mug — a face
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. stand — to bear
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. mug — a cup
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. ruler — for measuring

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