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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 120 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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. wax — to grow
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. stock — shares
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ball — a dance
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. mug — to rob
  14. stock — goods
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. row — to paddle
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. press — a publisher
  19. mug — a cup
  20. ball — a great time
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. row — a line
  23. mug — a face
  24. press — to push

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