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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.

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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. wax — to grow
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. press — to push
  10. cue — for pool
  11. pop — soda
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rock — music
  16. pop — to visit
  17. cue — a signal
  18. press — newspapers
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. stem — to come from
  22. cue — a hint
  23. press — a publisher
  24. lash — to lash out

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