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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 116 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
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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: lean · rock · coach · saw · rush · snap · ruler · bowl

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rock — music
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. lean — thin
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. saw — the tool
  12. rush — hurry
  13. lean — to bend
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. snap — to click
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. saw — the tool
  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