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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. rock — music
  5. press — newspapers
  6. press — a publisher
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bound — certain
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. tube — a container
  12. wax — to grow
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. tube — the underground
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. press — to push
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. dip — to sink
  24. rock — a stone

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