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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 124 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: toast · content · bear · press · leaves · board · wax · march

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. content — the amount
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. board — a committee
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bear — the animal
  11. march — the month
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bear — the animal
  14. press — a publisher
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. toast — bread
  17. march — the month
  18. board — to get on
  19. content — happy
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. press — to push
  23. wax — to grow
  24. march — music

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