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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: coach · rush · bank · lie · roll · jam · bark · nail

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  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. jam — a tight spot
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rush — hurry
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. lie — to recline
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. roll — a list
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bank — for money
  16. roll — a cake
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. bank — of a river
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bark — to shout
  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