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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: wave · toast · coach · stem · stand · ball · face · pass

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. face — part of the head
  5. face — to confront
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. pass — a permit
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. toast — bread
  12. stem — to come from
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. ball — a dance
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. face — to point toward

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