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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. mug — to rob
  3. ground — the earth
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. mug — a cup
  8. object — a thing
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. mug — a face
  11. fork — in a road
  12. object — an aim
  13. clip — to cut
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — obliged
  17. prune — to trim
  18. object — to protest
  19. clip — for paper
  20. ground — crushed
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bound — certain
  23. ground — a position
  24. fork — to eat with

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