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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. clip — for paper
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. clip — a video
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. clip — to cut
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bore — to drill
  10. current — of water
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. current — electric
  14. can — to be able to
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. can — a tin
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. foot — a measure
  19. can — a tin
  20. bore — to tire
  21. current — happening now
  22. snap — to click
  23. rock — music
  24. racket — for tennis

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