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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: swing · coach · rock · pass · temple · vault · arm · branch

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. rock — a stone
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. swing — to play on
  9. vault — a safe
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. branch — a division
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. swing — music
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. pass — a permit
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. swing — in golf
  24. rock — music

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