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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 116 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: hide · bank · charge · drill · branch · swing · coach · deal

  1. David sat on the ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — to play on
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. charge — in control
  4. swing — music
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. charge — a price
  12. bank — for money
  13. branch — a division
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. drill — the tool
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. charge — electricity
  18. drill — a practice
  19. deal — to handle
  20. bank — for money
  21. swing — in golf
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bank — of a river
  24. drill — army training

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