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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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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 · present · bay · bank · wave · stem · rock · nail

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. stem — to come from
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. present — a gift
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. present — the time now
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. bank — for money
  15. rock — a stone
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bank — of a river
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. rock — music
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bank — for money
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. present — there

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