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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
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: present · date · last · root · temple · pop · pass · coach

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. root — of a word
  3. date — the fruit
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. root — of a plant
  6. last — finally
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. root — the cause
  9. pop — soda
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. present — a gift
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. last — to go on
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. pop — music
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. pop — to visit
  21. last — final
  22. present — there
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. present — the time now

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