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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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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: lash · coach · vault · bank · rest · roll · capital · temple

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Beijing is the ________________ of China.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. rest — what's left
  5. bank — for money
  6. rest — a break
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. vault — a safe
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bank — for money
  13. roll — a cake
  14. capital — money
  15. roll — a list
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. bank — of a river
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. rest — what's left
  24. capital — a city

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