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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
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: pitch · arm · wax · cap · press · bowl · drill · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. press — newspapers
  5. rash — hasty
  6. press — a publisher
  7. cap — a hat
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. wax — to grow
  10. drill — a practice
  11. press — to push
  12. drill — army training
  13. cap — of ice
  14. pitch — completely
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. cap — a lid
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. drill — the tool
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. wax — for sculpting

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