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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 120 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: pass · cue · root · staff · march · mug · rush · chest

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. march — music
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mug — a face
  5. staff — employees
  6. chest — of your body
  7. mug — to rob
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. cue — for pool
  10. chest — a box
  11. staff — a stick
  12. root — the cause
  13. pass — a permit
  14. root — of a plant
  15. rush — hurry
  16. chest — of your body
  17. march — the month
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. march — the month
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. staff — employees
  22. cue — a signal
  23. root — of a word
  24. mug — a cup

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