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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. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. squash — the sport
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. rock — a stone
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. clip — for paper
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mark — a grade
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. rock — music
  21. deal — to handle
  22. clip — to cut
  23. squash — to crush
  24. lie — to recline

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