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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 116 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
468
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: snap · mug · press · track · wax · board · trunk · safe

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. track — to keep track
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mug — a face
  7. wax — to grow
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. mug — a cup
  10. press — a publisher
  11. press — newspapers
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. snap — to click
  15. mug — to rob
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. board — to get on
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. track — a path
  21. track — a song
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. board — a committee

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