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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: wave · toast · lie · press · content · wax · file · suit

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. press — newspapers
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. file — a line of people
  6. lie — to recline
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. suit — to fit
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. content — the amount
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. file — a tool
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. toast — bread
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. content — happy
  19. file — a document
  20. suit — in cards
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. wax — to grow
  23. press — to push
  24. suit — clothes

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