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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
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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: charge · deal · calf · wax · pass · press · field · key

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. key — in music
  3. press — newspapers
  4. field — for sport
  5. pass — a permit
  6. field — farmland
  7. deal — to handle
  8. press — to push
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. key — for a lock
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. charge — in control
  15. field — a subject
  16. charge — a price
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. key — the most important part
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. wax — to grow
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. charge — electricity
  24. deal — a big deal

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