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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: leaves · track · pass · nail · rock · rest · present · stand

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. present — there
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. track — a path
  6. rock — music
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. pass — a permit
  10. track — to keep track
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. rock — a stone
  13. stand — to bear
  14. track — a song
  15. rest — a break
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. present — the time now
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. present — a gift
  22. rest — what's left
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — of a tree

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