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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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. press — to push
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. bank — for money
  5. press — newspapers
  6. tube — a container
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. bank — of a river
  10. wax — to grow
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. tube — the underground
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. plane — a tool
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. press — a publisher
  23. bank — for money
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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