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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. toast — bread
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — a measure
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. press — newspapers
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. sharp — clever
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — to grow
  19. stand — to bear
  20. press — to push
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. can — to be able to
  23. press — a publisher
  24. can — a tin

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