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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. pop — soda
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. press — to push
  8. pass — a permit
  9. press — newspapers
  10. pop — music
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. scale — size or range
  13. press — a publisher
  14. root — of a word
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. root — the cause
  20. wax — to grow
  21. scale — in music
  22. branch — a division
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. root — of a plant

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