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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.

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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: cabinet · bulb · wax · press · drill · deal · ground · chip

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. bulb — for light
  4. drill — the tool
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. ground — a position
  7. wax — to grow
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. press — newspapers
  10. drill — a practice
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bulb — for light
  13. ground — crushed
  14. press — to push
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. ground — the earth
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. chip — for betting
  20. drill — army training
  21. deal — to handle
  22. chip — to eat
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. press — a publisher

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