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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: plane · coach · rush · fine · squash · rest · mug · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. plane — a tool
  3. rest — what's left
  4. fine — high quality
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fine — all right
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — a cup
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. squash — the sport
  15. rest — what's left
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rest — a break
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. squash — to crush
  23. mug — to rob
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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