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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: season · hide · cue · bore · coach · stick · pass · root

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. bore — to tire
  3. cue — a hint
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. cue — for pool
  9. pass — a permit
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bore — to drill
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — in sport
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cue — a signal
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. root — of a plant
  21. root — the cause
  22. season — of the year
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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