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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
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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: suit · jam · swing · tube · wax · press · safe · arm

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. suit — to fit
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. press — to push
  6. press — newspapers
  7. suit — clothes
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. swing — to play on
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. tube — a container
  13. wax — to grow
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. tube — the underground
  19. swing — in golf
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. swing — music
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. suit — in cards

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