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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. board — a committee
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. mate — a partner
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. cap — a lid
  12. board — to get on
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. toast — bread
  15. stand — to bear
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bass — the fish
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mate — to breed
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. cap — of ice
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. cap — a hat
  24. pass — a permit

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