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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. chip — for betting
  4. press — newspapers
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wax — to grow
  9. press — to push
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wound — an injury
  12. staff — a stick
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. dip — to sink
  15. deal — to handle
  16. chip — to eat
  17. staff — employees
  18. wound — an injury
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. press — a publisher
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. deal — a big deal

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