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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 116 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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. clip — a video
  3. saw — the tool
  4. deal — to handle
  5. mate — to breed
  6. current — happening now
  7. mug — a face
  8. current — electric
  9. mug — to rob
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. clip — for paper
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. saw — the tool
  16. mate — a friend
  17. clip — to cut
  18. stem — to come from
  19. current — of water
  20. mate — a partner
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mug — a cup
  24. fan — a supporter

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