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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. can — a tin
  3. cue — a signal
  4. track — a song
  5. track — a path
  6. kid — child
  7. rock — a stone
  8. present — the time now
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. present — there
  11. can — to be able to
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. press — to push
  16. present — a gift
  17. kid — to tease
  18. track — to keep track
  19. cue — for pool
  20. rock — music
  21. wax — to grow
  22. can — a tin
  23. press — newspapers
  24. cue — a hint

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