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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
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: can · mark · fan · wax · rock · leaves · cell · press

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a trace
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. cell — a phone
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. cell — in biology
  8. mark — a grade
  9. press — a publisher
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — to push
  15. can — to be able to
  16. rock — music
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. wax — to grow

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