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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stand · season · last · board · ball · coach · vault · lash

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. board — to get on
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. ball — a great time
  7. last — to go on
  8. season — of the year
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. ball — a dance
  11. stand — to bear
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. last — finally
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. season — in sport
  22. last — final
  23. board — a committee
  24. vault — a safe

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