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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: mark · patient · press · sharp · bulb · drill · wax · dip

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. dip — to sink
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. press — newspapers
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bulb — for light
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. sharp — clever
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mark — a grade
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. drill — a practice
  20. wax — to grow
  21. drill — army training
  22. bulb — for light
  23. press — to push
  24. drill — the tool

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