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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: band · coach · can · rush · bear · stock · ruler · cabinet

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. can — to be able to
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bear — the animal
  8. stock — shares
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. band — a music group
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bear — the animal
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. can — a tin
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. can — a tin
  20. band — a ring
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. stock — goods
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. stock — a soup base

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