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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.

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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: wax · tube · file · stock · press · mug · chip · pass

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. file — a document
  3. mug — a face
  4. chip — for betting
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. stock — goods
  7. mug — a cup
  8. press — to push
  9. chip — to eat
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. mug — to rob
  12. press — a publisher
  13. pass — a permit
  14. wax — to grow
  15. stock — shares
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. file — a line of people
  22. tube — a container
  23. press — newspapers
  24. pass — to spend time

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