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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. fine — high quality
  3. press — a publisher
  4. fine — all right
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. wax — to grow
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. deal — to handle
  9. saw — the tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. pitch — completely
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. stand — to bear
  19. saw — the tool
  20. press — to push
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. wax — in the ear

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