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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: bound · branch · board · wound · lash · coach · can · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  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. bank — of a river
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — a division
  5. board — a committee
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. can — a tin
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. board — to get on
  12. bound — obliged
  13. wound — an injury
  14. bound — certain
  15. wound — an injury
  16. can — to be able to
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bank — for money
  23. can — a tin
  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