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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: pass · rest · ball · track · board · can · coach · rush

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. pass — a permit
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — a committee
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. rest — what's left
  11. board — to get on
  12. track — a path
  13. can — a tin
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. ball — a dance
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. can — to be able to
  18. track — a song
  19. rest — a break
  20. track — to keep track
  21. can — a tin
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rest — what's left

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