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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
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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: wax · toast · temple · root · patient · mug · swing · coach

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. mug — a cup
  5. swing — music
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. swing — in golf
  10. root — the cause
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. mug — a face
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. toast — bread
  17. swing — to play on
  18. wax — to grow
  19. root — of a plant
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. root — of a word

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