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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 120 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 museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. chip — for betting
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. mug — a cup
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. press — a publisher
  11. mug — to rob
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. press — to push
  16. press — newspapers
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. wax — to grow
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. chip — to eat
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. mug — a face
  24. wax — in the ear

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