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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 116 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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. wax — to grow
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. mark — a trace
  14. press — a publisher
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. mark — a grade
  18. press — to push
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. press — newspapers
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. lash — to lash out

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