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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: fine · bound · coach · charge · rock · last · lash · branch

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. rock — a stone
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. branch — a division
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. charge — in control
  14. bound — tied together
  15. fine — all right
  16. bound — obliged
  17. rock — music
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. last — to go on
  20. last — finally
  21. charge — a price
  22. fine — high quality
  23. last — final
  24. bound — certain

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