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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.

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: deal · roll · drill · press · coach · lash · bank · saw

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. bank — for money
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. drill — the tool
  6. drill — a practice
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. press — to push
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. drill — army training
  11. saw — the tool
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. press — a publisher
  14. roll — a list
  15. press — newspapers
  16. saw — the tool
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. bank — of a river
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. deal — to handle
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bank — for money

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