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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — a face
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. wax — to grow
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. press — to push
  11. stand — to bear
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bear — the animal
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. press — newspapers
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. wake — a trail
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. mug — to rob
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pitch — completely

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