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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: coach · mark · perch · date · band · lash · fan · ruler

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. band — a music group
  11. band — a ring
  12. date — the fruit
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. mark — a grade
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. perch — the fish
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — a supporter

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