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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.

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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 · stand · pass · season · board · field · object · last

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. board — to get on
  3. object — an aim
  4. object — to protest
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. object — a thing
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stand — to bear
  9. last — final
  10. field — a subject
  11. board — a committee
  12. pass — a permit
  13. season — of the year
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. last — to go on
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. field — for sport
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. season — in sport
  23. field — farmland
  24. last — finally

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