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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 116 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: coach · pitch · rock · lean · stand · rest · leaves · spring

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. lean — thin
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. spring — of water
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. spring — the season
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. lean — to bend
  14. rest — a break
  15. rock — a stone
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. stand — to bear
  18. rest — what's left
  19. pitch — completely
  20. rock — music
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. rest — what's left
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. spring — a coil

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