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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 · pitcher · pit · cap · shower · cue · key

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. cap — of ice
  3. cue — for pool
  4. key — in music
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. cue — a signal
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. cap — a lid
  9. key — for a lock
  10. root — the cause
  11. pit — in a race
  12. root — of a word
  13. cue — a hint
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. shower — to wash
  16. cap — a hat
  17. root — of a plant
  18. key — the most important part
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. shower — rain
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pit — a hole
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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