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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: staff · stand · jam · board · coach · spell · wave · ground

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. staff — employees
  3. ground — the earth
  4. staff — a stick
  5. ground — a position
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. spell — a short time
  8. stand — to bear
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. board — to get on
  13. staff — employees
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. board — a committee
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. spell — letters
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. ground — crushed
  23. spell — magic
  24. stand — for spectators

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