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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. press — a publisher
  5. clip — to cut
  6. bulb — for light
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bulb — for light
  10. degree — from a university
  11. clip — for paper
  12. lie — to recline
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. degree — temperature
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. press — to push
  18. press — newspapers
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. degree — an amount

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