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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: pass · dip · game · coach · root · rule · rush · scale

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rule — government
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. root — the cause
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. rule — a law
  12. scale — in music
  13. root — of a plant
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. game — wild animals
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. root — of a word
  19. game — a match
  20. scale — size or range
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pass — a permit
  23. dip — to sink
  24. dip — a sauce

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