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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: squash · bark · prune · ruler · trunk · coach · rush · cap

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. That must've been 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. trunk — of a tree
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. prune — to trim
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. cap — of ice
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cap — a lid
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. rush — hurry
  17. squash — to crush
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. prune — to trim
  20. cap — a hat
  21. squash — the sport
  22. bark — to shout
  23. rush — a thrill
  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