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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. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. wake — a trail
  4. stock — shares
  5. shower — rain
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. clip — for paper
  10. bass — low music
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. bound — obliged
  15. clip — a video
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. shower — to wash
  18. bound — certain
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. bound — tied together
  21. stock — goods
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. ruler — a monarch

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