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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: date · coach · root · object · pop · hide · lie · pass

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. pass — a permit
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. root — the cause
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pop — soda
  7. object — an aim
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. date — the fruit
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. root — of a plant
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. root — of a word
  20. pop — to visit
  21. pop — music
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. lie — to recline
  24. object — a thing

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