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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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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: can · face · coach · mug · rest · ruler · degree · bank

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — a tin
  3. rest — a break
  4. bank — of a river
  5. rest — what's left
  6. mug — a face
  7. degree — temperature
  8. mug — to rob
  9. degree — from a university
  10. bank — for money
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. face — to point toward
  13. bank — for money
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. mug — a cup
  16. face — part of the head
  17. can — to be able to
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. degree — an amount
  20. rest — what's left
  21. can — a tin
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. face — to confront

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