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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. suit — in cards
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. press — a publisher
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. mate — a partner
  7. object — to protest
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. key — the most important part
  10. object — an aim
  11. wax — to grow
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. mate — to breed
  17. key — for a lock
  18. press — to push
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. object — a thing
  21. key — in music
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. mate — a friend
  24. suit — clothes

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