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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: coach · wax · bore · press · roll · scale · root · fan

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. press — a publisher
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bore — to tire
  6. root — the cause
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bore — to drill
  10. roll — a cake
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. press — to push
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. scale — size or range
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. wax — to grow
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. scale — in music
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. roll — a list
  24. root — of a plant

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