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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.

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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: temple · root · coach · lash · prune · bank · dip · race

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bank — of a river
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. bank — for money
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bank — for money
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. dip — to sink
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. race — humankind
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. race — the arms race
  14. root — the cause
  15. prune — to trim
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. root — of a plant
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. race — a contest
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. root — of a word
  23. prune — to trim
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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