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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.

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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: cabinet · press · pass · wax · scale · rock · prune · bore

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. rock — music
  3. press — newspapers
  4. bore — to drill
  5. prune — to trim
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. wax — to grow
  14. press — a publisher
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. press — to push
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. prune — to trim
  19. bore — to tire
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. scale — size or range
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. scale — in music
  24. cabinet — ministers

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