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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. wax — to grow
  3. shower — rain
  4. track — a path
  5. shower — to wash
  6. season — of the year
  7. press — a publisher
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. squash — to crush
  10. track — to keep track
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rock — a stone
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. season — in sport
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. staff — employees
  17. press — to push
  18. track — a song
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — music
  23. staff — employees
  24. squash — the sport

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