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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 120 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: craft · net · mark · sharp · press · charge · safe · wax

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. craft — boats
  6. press — a publisher
  7. wax — to grow
  8. mark — a trace
  9. net — after costs
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. mark — a grade
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. craft — a skill
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. net — for catching
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. charge — a price
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. sharp — clever
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. net — in sport
  22. charge — electricity
  23. charge — in control
  24. press — to push

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