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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: bank · leaves · fine · cabinet · bass · coach · rash · temple

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bass — low music
  6. fine — all right
  7. bank — of a river
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rash — hasty
  13. bass — the fish
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. bank — for money
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. rash — a series
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. fine — high quality
  23. bank — for money
  24. coach — a trainer

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