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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: root · cue · land · dip · coach · stand · squash · club

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. club — a group
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. cue — a hint
  6. root — the cause
  7. cue — for pool
  8. squash — the sport
  9. stand — to bear
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. club — for dancing
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. root — of a word
  15. club — for golf
  16. dip — to sink
  17. land — a country
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. squash — to crush
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. root — of a plant
  22. cue — a signal
  23. land — ground
  24. land — to come down

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