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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. can — a tin
  3. pass — a permit
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. press — newspapers
  7. rash — a series
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. wax — to grow
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. snap — to click
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. press — a publisher
  17. rash — hasty
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. deal — to handle
  23. press — to push
  24. mouse — the animal

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