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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. season — in sport
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. cue — for pool
  9. season — of the year
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cue — a hint
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. press — a publisher
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. net — after costs
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. net — in sport
  19. net — for catching
  20. bore — to tire
  21. snap — to click
  22. bore — to drill
  23. press — to push
  24. cue — a signal

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