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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. fine — all right
  3. suit — to fit
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. press — newspapers
  6. can — a tin
  7. press — a publisher
  8. wax — to grow
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. net — after costs
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. fine — high quality
  13. stand — to bear
  14. suit — clothes
  15. net — in sport
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. land — to come down
  18. can — to be able to
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. press — to push
  21. net — for catching
  22. land — ground
  23. suit — in cards
  24. land — a country

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