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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 120 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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. key — in music
  5. game — a match
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. key — the most important part
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. mug — a face
  10. lean — to bend
  11. clip — to cut
  12. game — wild animals
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. mug — to rob
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. clip — for paper
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. mug — a cup
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. pass — a permit
  23. lean — thin
  24. key — for a lock

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