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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. file — a document
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. cap — a hat
  8. mark — a trace
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. plane — a tool
  11. file — a line of people
  12. file — a tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. clip — to cut
  16. cap — of ice
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. clip — for paper
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. cap — a lid
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mark — a grade

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