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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: can · season · toast · capital · wake · mug · wax · press

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. mug — a face
  3. wake — a trail
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a cup
  6. press — newspapers
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. can — a tin
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. can — a tin
  13. press — to push
  14. can — to be able to
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. capital — a city
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. season — in sport
  19. capital — a big letter
  20. toast — bread
  21. press — a publisher
  22. capital — money
  23. season — of the year
  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