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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: stand · game · prune · pass · bark · leaves · roll · rock

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. bark — to shout
  5. game — wild animals
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. prune — to trim
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. prune — to trim
  13. game — a match
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. stand — to bear
  16. pass — a permit
  17. rock — music
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. roll — a cake
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. rock — a stone
  23. roll — a list
  24. game — a kind of play

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