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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 124 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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. march — music
  3. craft — boats
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. ground — crushed
  6. press — to push
  7. press — a publisher
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. craft — a skill
  10. ground — a position
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. date — the fruit
  14. march — the month
  15. suit — to fit
  16. press — newspapers
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. wax — to grow
  21. march — the month
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — in cards
  24. racket — a loud noise

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