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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. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. clip — to cut
  4. current — of water
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. current — electric
  7. rash — hasty
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. bound — obliged
  11. clip — a video
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — to rob
  14. rash — a series
  15. bound — certain
  16. pass — a permit
  17. mug — a face
  18. current — happening now
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bound — tied together
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ball — a great time
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. pass — to spend time

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