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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: snap · ground · rock · branch · ruler · leaves · coach · rush

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. ground — a position
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. branch — a division
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. ground — the earth
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. ground — crushed
  20. snap — to click
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rock — a stone
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. ruler — for measuring

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