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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: leaves · pass · band · staff · drill · trunk · board · bank

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bank — for money
  8. staff — employees
  9. board — to get on
  10. staff — a stick
  11. staff — employees
  12. band — a music group
  13. drill — the tool
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. drill — army training
  16. bank — for money
  17. board — a committee
  18. drill — a practice
  19. band — a ring
  20. bank — of a river
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. band — a rubber band

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