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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. press — newspapers
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pop — to visit
  6. wax — to grow
  7. face — to confront
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. face — part of the head
  10. pop — music
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. press — a publisher
  14. charge — a price
  15. charge — in control
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. net — after costs
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. net — for catching
  20. face — to point toward
  21. pop — soda
  22. press — to push
  23. net — in sport
  24. charge — electricity

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