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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: wave · wound · fork · can · press · dip · pit · suit

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. press — a publisher
  3. dip — to sink
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. suit — clothes
  6. fork — in a road
  7. can — to be able to
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. press — to push
  12. wound — an injury
  13. press — newspapers
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. can — a tin
  17. pit — a hole
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. can — a tin
  20. pit — in a race
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. wound — an injury
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. wave — of the sea

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