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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. dip — to sink
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. press — to push
  8. press — a publisher
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pop — music
  11. pop — soda
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pop — to visit
  19. wax — to grow
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. rock — a stone
  24. dip — a sauce

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