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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. pound — a weight
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. field — farmland
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. field — for sport
  13. wax — to grow
  14. saw — the tool
  15. field — a subject
  16. stem — to come from
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. press — a publisher
  19. press — to push
  20. saw — the tool
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. pound — to hit hard

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