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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.

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: board · bank · coach · stock · bound · lash · kick · temple

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. bank — for money
  3. bound — certain
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. bound — obliged
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. stock — shares
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. kick — in football
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bank — for money
  16. board — to get on
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. bank — of a river
  21. stock — goods
  22. bound — tied together
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. board — a committee

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