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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: cabinet · mug · press · ruler · nail · safe · roll · wax

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mug — a cup
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. press — to push
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. roll — a list
  10. press — a publisher
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wax — to grow
  14. press — newspapers
  15. roll — a cake
  16. mug — to rob
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mug — a face

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