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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.

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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: face · clip · root · cabinet · press · wax · arm · toast

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. press — newspapers
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. clip — to cut
  5. face — to confront
  6. press — to push
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. press — a publisher
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. root — of a plant
  16. wax — to grow
  17. root — the cause
  18. face — to point toward
  19. toast — bread
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. face — part of the head
  22. clip — a video
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. clip — for paper

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