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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. band — a music group
  3. chair — a leader
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. bank — for money
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. board — a committee
  17. stand — to bear
  18. bank — of a river
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. band — a ring
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. bank — for money
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. board — to get on

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