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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: lie · stem · cue · press · hand · wax · cap · can

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cap — a lid
  3. hand — in cards
  4. cap — a hat
  5. cap — of ice
  6. press — to push
  7. cue — for pool
  8. can — a tin
  9. wax — to grow
  10. can — to be able to
  11. press — newspapers
  12. cue — a signal
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. lie — to recline
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. can — a tin
  19. press — a publisher
  20. stem — to come from
  21. cue — a hint
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. hand — help

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