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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.

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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: bowl · saw · stand · track · clip · object · press · wax

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. clip — a video
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. track — a path
  7. saw — the tool
  8. clip — for paper
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. object — an aim
  12. track — a song
  13. press — newspapers
  14. object — to protest
  15. stand — to bear
  16. clip — to cut
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. press — to push
  21. saw — the tool
  22. press — a publisher
  23. track — to keep track
  24. bowl — to roll

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