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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. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. clip — for paper
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. tube — a container
  6. clip — to cut
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. rash — a series
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. current — of water
  21. current — electric
  22. rash — hasty
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. current — happening now

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