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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. press — a publisher
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. file — a document
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. file — a tool
  8. file — a line of people
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pass — a permit
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. press — newspapers
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. wax — to grow
  21. rash — a series
  22. bulb — for light
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. press — to push

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