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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. press — newspapers
  3. board — a committee
  4. prune — to trim
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bound — obliged
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. race — the arms race
  11. race — humankind
  12. race — a contest
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bound — certain
  18. prune — to trim
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. wax — to grow
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. press — to push
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. press — a publisher

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