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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: ground · face · wax · snap · pass · press · rock · rash

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. pass — a permit
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. face — to point toward
  7. press — to push
  8. press — a publisher
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. ground — the earth
  12. press — newspapers
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. snap — to click
  16. face — part of the head
  17. face — to confront
  18. ground — a position
  19. ground — crushed
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rash — a series
  24. pass — to succeed

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