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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 · net · court · pass · cue · rock · deal · tube

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. cue — a signal
  6. tube — the underground
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. cue — for pool
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — music
  12. tube — a container
  13. net — in sport
  14. rock — a stone
  15. court — for sport
  16. pass — a permit
  17. court — of law
  18. cue — a hint
  19. court — of a king
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. net — after costs
  22. net — for catching
  23. deal — to handle
  24. pass — to spend time

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