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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. ball — a dance
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. press — a publisher
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. press — newspapers
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. wax — to grow
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. press — to push
  24. cabinet — ministers

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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