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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 120 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: stand · press · wax · perch · fan · hide · rock · ruler

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. wax — to grow
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. rock — a stone
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. perch — the fish
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. stand — to bear
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rock — music
  15. press — newspapers
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. press — a publisher
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. perch — for a bird

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