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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: root · coach · rush · pass · cue · tear · wax · clip

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  20. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. root — the cause
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. cue — a signal
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. root — of a plant
  8. wax — to grow
  9. root — of a word
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. cue — a hint
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. clip — for paper
  15. pass — a permit
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. tear — from crying
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. tear — from crying
  20. clip — to cut
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — hurry
  23. clip — a video
  24. tear — to rip

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