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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: band · wax · mug · straw · press · leaves · stand · suit

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  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. wax — in the ear
  2. band — a music group
  3. suit — in cards
  4. press — newspapers
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. mug — a face
  8. press — to push
  9. mug — to rob
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. mug — a cup
  12. band — a ring
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. suit — to fit
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. stand — to bear
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. press — a publisher
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. wax — to grow
  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