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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 124 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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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 · stick · ruler · jam · can · branch · rest · wave

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. can — a tin
  3. branch — a division
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. rest — a break
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. can — a tin
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. rest — what's left
  17. can — to be able to
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. rest — what's left
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. ruler — a monarch

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