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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: branch · coach · rash · snap · can · date · mark · mate

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. can — a tin
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rash — a series
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. mate — a partner
  9. rash — hasty
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. mate — a friend
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. mark — a trace
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — a division
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. can — to be able to
  23. snap — to click
  24. mate — to breed

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