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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. suit — clothes
  3. suit — in cards
  4. wax — to grow
  5. mate — to breed
  6. press — to push
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. track — a song
  9. cap — of ice
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a path
  14. mate — a partner
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. suit — to fit
  18. press — newspapers
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. cap — a hat
  21. press — a publisher
  22. cap — a lid
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. mate — a friend

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