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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. rest — what's left
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. current — happening now
  8. press — newspapers
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. press — a publisher
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. current — electric
  14. press — to push
  15. current — of water
  16. rest — a break
  17. rash — hasty
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. bark — to shout
  23. rash — a series
  24. wax — to grow

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