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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 · degree · stand · pit · bank · key · club · coach

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. pit — a hole
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. key — in music
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. key — the most important part
  8. club — a group
  9. degree — from a university
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. bank — of a river
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. club — for golf
  14. pit — in a race
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bank — for money
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. degree — an amount
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bank — for money
  22. stand — to bear
  23. degree — temperature
  24. club — for dancing

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