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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: coach · board · march · stand · can · rush · pass · bass

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. board — to get on
  7. march — the month
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. can — a tin
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. can — a tin
  12. board — a committee
  13. pass — a permit
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bass — the fish
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. bass — low music
  19. march — music
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. stand — to bear
  23. can — to be able to
  24. march — the month

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