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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: pass · band · court · coach · snap · bound · ruler · trunk

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. pass — a permit
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. bound — obliged
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. court — of law
  12. band — a music group
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. court — for sport
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. court — of a king
  17. bound — certain
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. band — a ring
  22. snap — to click
  23. bound — tied together
  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