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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. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. drill — a practice
  3. mark — a grade
  4. press — newspapers
  5. drill — army training
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. key — for a lock
  8. clip — to cut
  9. clip — for paper
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. press — a publisher
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. drill — the tool
  16. key — in music
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. wax — to grow
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. mark — a trace
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. key — the most important part
  23. press — to push
  24. wax — in the ear

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