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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. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. current — happening now
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. current — of water
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. track — a path
  7. track — to keep track
  8. field — a subject
  9. firm — a company
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. field — for sport
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. current — electric
  14. field — farmland
  15. track — a song
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. press — a publisher
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. firm — decided
  20. press — to push
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. firm — steady
  23. wax — to grow
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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