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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. foot — a measure
  3. clip — for paper
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. board — to get on
  7. mark — a grade
  8. tube — the underground
  9. key — in music
  10. root — the cause
  11. mark — a trace
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. key — for a lock
  15. root — of a word
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bank — for money
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. key — the most important part
  20. bank — for money
  21. clip — to cut
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. tube — a container
  24. root — of a plant

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