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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: kid · track · coach · ruler · suit · branch · foot · ball

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. kid — child
  4. suit — in cards
  5. ball — a great time
  6. kid — to tease
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. track — to keep track
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. track — a song
  13. ball — a dance
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. suit — clothes
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. suit — to fit
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. track — a path
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. foot — a measure
  24. branch — a division

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