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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: root · staff · coach · key · rule · mug · bass · tube

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. staff — a stick
  3. rule — government
  4. root — of a plant
  5. bass — the fish
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — the underground
  9. tube — a container
  10. rule — a law
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bass — low music
  13. staff — employees
  14. mug — a cup
  15. root — the cause
  16. key — in music
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. staff — employees
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. mug — a face
  23. root — of a word
  24. mug — to rob

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