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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. bank — for money
  4. clip — for paper
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. can — to be able to
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. bulb — for light
  9. scale — in music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a committee
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. scale — size or range
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. can — a tin
  19. bank — of a river
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bulb — for light
  22. clip — a video
  23. clip — to cut
  24. bank — for money

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