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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. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. board — a committee
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cap — of ice
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. board — to get on
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. clip — a video
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. clip — to cut
  19. rock — music
  20. bulb — for light
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. cap — a hat
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cap — a lid

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