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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.

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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: pass · craft · rest · roll · board · last · stand · capital

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. craft — a skill
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. rest — a break
  6. stand — to bear
  7. roll — a list
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. pass — a permit
  11. capital — a city
  12. capital — money
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. last — final
  17. last — finally
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. last — to go on
  20. craft — boats
  21. rest — what's left
  22. roll — a cake
  23. board — a committee
  24. board — to get on

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