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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. staff — a stick
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. wake — a trail
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. staff — employees
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. press — to push
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rush — hurry
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. wax — to grow
  16. staff — employees
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. lean — thin
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. press — newspapers
  22. lean — to bend
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. press — a publisher

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