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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.

Make a worksheet

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: coach · can · stand · bulb · rush · band · rash · scale

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. band — a ring
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — hurry
  14. can — a tin
  15. stand — to bear
  16. can — a tin
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. rash — a series
  19. scale — in music
  20. can — to be able to
  21. band — a music group
  22. rash — hasty
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. band — a rubber band

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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