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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 · band · coach · ball · press · stem · bank · can

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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. lash — to lash out
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — to come from
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bank — for money
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bank — for money
  10. ball — a great time
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — to push
  16. can — a tin
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. can — a tin
  20. press — newspapers
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. band — a music group
  24. band — a ring

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