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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: capital · nail · pass · wound · bank · lie · coach · bay

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bank — for money
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. capital — money
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. wound — an injury
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. pass — a permit
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bank — for money
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. capital — a city
  19. lie — to recline
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. wound — an injury
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. lie — an untruth

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