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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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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: mark · stand · stem · board · current · pass · straw · coach

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. board — to get on
  7. current — of water
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. current — electric
  10. pass — a permit
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. stem — to come from
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. current — happening now
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. board — a committee
  23. mark — a trace
  24. straw — a straw man

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