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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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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: lash · bore · band · coach · branch · key · calf · current

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. branch — a division
  3. current — of water
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bore — to tire
  10. key — for a lock
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. current — electric
  15. bore — to drill
  16. band — a music group
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. current — happening now
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. band — a ring
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. key — in music

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