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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: rule · coach · temple · pop · snap · key · pass · board

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. key — in music
  5. snap — to click
  6. pass — a permit
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. board — to get on
  10. pop — soda
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. key — the most important part
  13. rule — government
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. pop — music
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. rule — a law
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. key — for a lock
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. board — a committee
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. rule — to rule out

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