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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. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cue — a signal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lean — thin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. clip — a video
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bulb — for light
  15. lean — to bend
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. clip — for paper
  18. lie — to recline
  19. season — of the year
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. season — in sport
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. lie — an untruth

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