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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 120 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: spring · fine · ruler · spell · chip · tear · coach · track

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. track — a song
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. tear — from crying
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. spring — a coil
  9. tear — to rip
  10. spell — letters
  11. track — to keep track
  12. spring — the season
  13. spring — of water
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. chip — for betting
  17. spell — a short time
  18. fine — high quality
  19. tear — from crying
  20. track — a path
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. spell — magic
  23. fine — all right
  24. chip — to eat

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