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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. rock — music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. press — a publisher
  9. press — newspapers
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bulb — for light
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. wax — to grow
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. press — to push
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. key — in music

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