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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: stand · row · key · season · foot · lash · root · coach

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. row — a line
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. foot — a measure
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. root — of a plant
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. root — of a word
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. row — to paddle
  13. season — in sport
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. key — in music
  16. root — the cause
  17. key — for a lock
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. key — the most important part
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. season — of the year
  24. stand — to bear

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