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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. press — newspapers
  3. wax — to grow
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. present — there
  8. present — a gift
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. rush — hurry
  12. press — to push
  13. present — the time now
  14. press — a publisher
  15. spell — letters
  16. cue — a signal
  17. fork — in a road
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. cue — a hint
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. cue — for pool
  23. spell — a short time
  24. spell — magic

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