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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: stand · safe · staff · band · coach · bowl · plane · pass

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pass — a permit
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. stand — to bear
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. plane — a tool
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — employees
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. staff — a stick
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. band — a ring
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. band — a music group
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. band — a rubber band

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