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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.

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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: fine · rock · lash · court · ruler · coach · branch · bass

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. court — of law
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. court — of a king
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. bass — low music
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. branch — a division
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. fine — all right
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rock — a stone
  23. fine — high quality
  24. court — for sport

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