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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: fall · coach · suit · racket · track · stand · board · lie

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. suit — to fit
  4. board — a committee
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a path
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fall — to drop
  9. suit — in cards
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. fall — the season
  12. board — to get on
  13. lie — to recline
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. stand — to bear
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. fall — to drop
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. suit — clothes
  24. coach — a trainer

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