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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. firm — a company
  3. mug — a face
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. clip — for paper
  7. plane — a tool
  8. mug — to rob
  9. firm — decided
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bat — for baseball
  12. charge — electricity
  13. bat — the animal
  14. charge — in control
  15. bulb — for light
  16. fine — all right
  17. clip — to cut
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. charge — a price
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. mug — a cup
  23. firm — steady
  24. plane — an aircraft

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