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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: content · mug · season · scale · pitch · plane · press · wax

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — a tool
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. season — in sport
  5. press — newspapers
  6. scale — in music
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. content — the amount
  9. press — to push
  10. content — happy
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. wax — to grow
  14. press — a publisher
  15. scale — size or range
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. mug — a face
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. mug — to rob
  21. pitch — completely
  22. season — of the year
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. mug — a cup

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