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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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — to push
  5. spell — letters
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. wax — to grow
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. perch — the fish
  11. drill — army training
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. drill — a practice
  15. rock — music
  16. spell — a short time
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. drill — the tool
  19. rock — a stone
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. spell — magic

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