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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. field — farmland
  3. press — newspapers
  4. saw — the tool
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. press — a publisher
  10. pass — a permit
  11. press — to push
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. field — a subject
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. wax — to grow
  19. charge — in control
  20. saw — the tool
  21. branch — a division
  22. charge — electricity
  23. field — for sport
  24. pass — to succeed

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