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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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. press — a publisher
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. pop — music
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. rush — hurry
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. craft — boats
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pass — a permit
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. pop — soda
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. wax — to grow
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. press — newspapers
  22. press — to push
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. wake — a trail

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