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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: scale · wax · press · rush · dip · bound · mug · deal

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. bound — certain
  3. mug — a cup
  4. scale — in music
  5. dip — to sink
  6. wax — to grow
  7. deal — to handle
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mug — to rob
  12. bound — tied together
  13. press — a publisher
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. press — newspapers
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. scale — size or range
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mug — a face
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. dip — a sauce

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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