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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: rush · swing · prune · bank · root · coach · wake · leaves

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. bank — for money
  4. root — the cause
  5. prune — to trim
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. swing — in golf
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. prune — to trim
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. root — of a word
  15. swing — to play on
  16. bank — of a river
  17. rush — hurry
  18. bank — for money
  19. root — of a plant
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. wake — a trail
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rush — to hurry

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