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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.

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 · wax · toast · bulb · fan · press · bank · ball

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  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. ball — a great time
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. content — happy
  4. bulb — for light
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. press — to push
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bank — for money
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. press — newspapers
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. toast — bread
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bank — for money
  16. wax — to grow
  17. content — the amount
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ball — a dance
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  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